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WILDERNESS    HOMES 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

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WILDERNESS    HOMES 

A  BOOK  OF  THE   LOG    CABIN 

BY 

OLIVER  KEMP 

ILLUSTRATED  BY  THE  AUTHOR 


NEW   YORK 

THE   OUTING  PUBLISHING   COMPANY 

MCIVIVin 


Copyright,  1908,  by 
THE  OUTING  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 


All  Rights  Reserved 


FOREWORD 

IF  you  love  the  out-of-doors,  this  book 
was  written  for  you,  to  crystallize  and 
bring  into  reahty  that  vague  longing 
which  you  have  felt  for  a  lodge  in  the 
wilderness. 

Somewhere  the  trail  has  led  you  to  the 
ideal  spot  in  the  deep  forest,  by  the  shores 
of  a  smiling  lake  or  within  sound  of  the 
murmuring  waters. 

Wherever  you  may  choose  to  dwell  in 
the  woods,  there  will  be  found  abundant 
material  for  a  log  cabin,  and  a  day's  work 
will  bring  results  big  with  pleasure  and 
healthy  enjoyment,  for  even  the  tempo- 
rary sojourner  in  the  wilderness  cannot 
turn  to  better  employment  than  that  which 
will  give  him  a  home  of  his  own  handiwork, 
vii 


75509 


FOREWORD 


This  you  will  own  with  a  new  sense  of 
proprietorship  that  hitherto  you  have  not 
known.  Work  of  your  hands,  your  pride 
in  its  possession  will  increase  with  the  im- 
provements suggested  by  its  occupancy 
from  year  to  year. 

We  have  purposely  avoided  the  elabo- 
rate log  structures,  which  by  courtesy  are 
called  camps,  for  they  are  beyond  the  abil- 
ity of  the  amateur  to  construct,  had  he  ever 
so  much  time  at  his  command.  When  you 
desire  something  more  than  is  here  shown, 
consult  an  architect,  and  for  the  building 
of  it,  by  all  means  "  let "  the  job. 

The  designs  which  are  given  have  all 
been  built  and  allow  of  numberless  altera- 
tions to  suit  the  whims  and  requirements  of 
the  builder.  This  much  you  are  sure  of: 
from  the  first  your  cabin  will  have  the 
charm  of  a  home,  it  will  nestle  among  the 
trees  like  a  real  companion  of  the  forest, 
though  nature  must  have  a  few  seasons  in 


VUl 


FOREWORD 


which  to  "  creep  up  to  the  doorsill  and  wipe 
away  the  scars  of  man's  hasty  building." 

The  methods  of  construction  given  are 
those  of  a  thorough  workman,  though  the 
operations  may  be  greatly  curtailed,  espe- 
cially in  the  smaller  camps.  A  perusal  of 
even  the  elaborate  building  directions  will 
by  no  means  daunt  you.  To  have  your 
home  in  the  woods  only  two  things  are 
necessary,  the  time  and  the  will. 

In  my  own  experience  I  have  often 
wished  for  such  a  book  as  this,  and  I  feel 
fortunate  indeed  in  the  friendship  of  Mr. 
D.  L.  Annis,  of  Sebec,  Maine,  to  whose 
interested  and  practical  tutoring  I  owe  my 
knowledge  of  Log  Cabin  building. 

Some  years  ago  I  contributed  a  couple 
of  articles  (which  are  incorporated  in  this 
book)  on  the  subject  to  the  magazine 
Field  and  Stream.  The  instant  response 
indicated  a  need  for  the  information  con- 
tained herein.    For  that  reason  these  pages 


IX 


FOREWORD 

were  written  during  my  leisure  time  in  the 
woods  and  I  send  them  out  tried  and 
tested. 

Not  the  least  important  part  of  the  book 
are  the  photographs,  and  in  this  connec- 
tion I  must  acknowledge  with  pleasure 
my  indebtedness  for  the  valuable  help 
afforded  me  by  Mr.  Harrie  B.  Coe,  of 
Portland,  Maine;  Hon.  Carter  Harrison, 
of  Chicago;  Mr.  George  W.  Kirkner,  of 
New  York;  Mr.  N.  W.  McNaughton,  of 
Schoodic,  and  Mr.  M.  J.  Marr,  of  Indian 
River,  Maine,  in  supplying  many  of  the 
photographs  of  their  delightful  Wilder- 
ness Homes. 


^v^ 


CONTENTS 


Foreword 


CHAPTER 

I  Making  Plans 

II  The  Fireplace 

III  The  Ax  and  the  Tree 

IV  Building  the  Cabin 
V  The  Roof  and  the  Floor    . 

VI  The  Cabin  and  Its  Environment 

VII  Inside  the  Cabin 

VIII  What  It  Will  Cost      . 

IX  Some  Hunting  Cabins  . 

X    A  Few  Plans 

Wildwood 

Crow's  Nest 

A  Club  House  . 

The  Block  House 

Idlewild    .... 

The  Jolly  Pines 

The  Antlers  .    ... 


Vll 

PAGE 

3 

17 

29 

43 

55 

73 

93 

107 

113 

135 

135 

137 

140 

146 

.  149 

,  151 

.  153 


MAKING   PLANS 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 


CHAPTER    I 


MAKING    PLANS 


PLANNING  the  woods  home  is  a 
period  of  considerable  pleasure. 
Everything  about  it  will  suggest 
the  forest  and  the  remote  lake,  where  the 
big  trout  hide,  and  the  deer  come  down  in 
the  evenings  to  feed  on  the  tender  grasses 
at  the  water's  edge.  It  brings  that  great 
season  near  to  which  we  look  forward  year 
after  year  from  the  city  home. 

The  pleasure  thus  afforded  is,  however, 

but  part  of  the  satisfaction,  for,  guided  by 

a  sure  knowledge  of  the  possibilities  and 

limitations  of  the  subject,  your  plans  will 

3 


D.  H.  HILL  LIBRARY 

North  Carolina  State  College 


WILDERNESS   HOMES 

save  you  an  infinite  amount  of  work  and 
time  when  the  building  operations  actually 
begin.  Then  if  one  is  careful  to  erect  it 
in  a  commanding  position,  and  will  take 
the  necessary  care  to  adjust  it  to  the  sur- 
roundings, the  resulting  harmony  and  util- 
ity will  be  a  source  of  constant  satisfaction. 
In  the  matter  of  fitting  the  cabin  to  the 
site,  you  have  a  tremendous  advantage  over 
the  builder  of  structures  for  other  situa- 
tions than  the  woods.  So  long  as  you  stick 
to  the  one-story  or  story-and-a-half  build- 
ing you  are  safe,  for  the  log  cabin  will 
belong  to  its  place  as  surely  as  if  it  grew 
there.  After  all,  are  not  the  bowlders  gath- 
ered on  the  ground  where  the  future  cabin 
is  to  stand  and  the  logs  felled  in  the  encom- 
passing forest?  There  is  nothing  new 
about  it;  chameleon-like,  with  a  simple 
touch  of  stain  on  the  roof,  it  will  take  on 
the  color  of  its  surroundings,  particularly 
if  you,  as  the  builder,  do  not  get  in  the 
4 


■^  z 


MAKING  PLANS 

way.  Let  the  material  of  the  building 
show  frankly  for  what  it  is.  Let  each  part 
do  its  work  honestly,  and  you  need  not  fear 
for  the  attractiveness  of  your  home.  Its 
success  will  be  measured  not  by  its  size  nor 
by  its  architecture  after  all,  but  by  its 
comfort. 

Fortunately  there  will  be  an  outlook 
from  every  room,  and  we  can  let  the  light 
and  air  in  from  every  side.  The  living 
room,  with  its  high  ceiling,  will  be  given 
the  choice  of  views,  and  we  will  call  this 
the  front  of  the  house.  In  order  to  get 
all  the  out-of-doors  possible  into  the  house, 
plan  for  windows  that  are  long  rather  than 
high. 

Consider  them  as  frames  for  the  view, 
and  while  many  windows  are  desirable,  yet 
you  must  not  forget  that  furniture  of  a 
sort  must  come  into  the  calculation.  Many 
a  room  has  been  built  with  no  space  left  for 
the  bed.  It  is  commonly  said  that  a  house 
5 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 


cannot  have  too  many  windows,  but  a  great 
number  of  windows  does  not  necessarily 
insure  the  greatest  amount  of  light,  nor 
the  best  ventilation.  But  then  again,  in 
the  woods,  you  will  be  surprised  how 
dark  the  surrounding  trees  will  make  your 
camp. 

Casement  windows  lend  themselves  very 
well  to  our  style  of  architecture,  and  when- 
ever they  are  used,  should  invariably  open 
out.  However,  it  is  almost  impossible  to 
make  them  wind  and  stormproof,  and  they 
are  always  clashing  with  the  screens. 

Whenever  possible,  bring  the  chimney 
into  the  center  of  the  house,  to  insure  a 
more  even  distribution  of  the  heat,  and 
also  make  possible  the  connection  from 
adjoining  rooms  with  stoves,  should  the 
occupancy  of  the  camp  in  fall  or  spring 
make  these  desirable. 

For  a  similar  reason,  arrange  your 
kitchen  so  that  it  can  be  absolutely  shut  off 
6 


MAKING   PLANS 


from  the  rest  of  the  camp  when  desired. 
On  very  warm  days  in  the  woods,  when  the 
gentle  zephyrs  play  around  the  tree  tops 
but  forget  to  come  lower  down,  you  will 
get  the  point  of  this  argument.  Be  sure 
to  look  up  the  regular  sizes  of  windows 
and  doors  that  are  furnished  the  trade 
from  the  factories,  so  that  you  can  make 
the  proper  allowances. 

Keeping  the  building  down  to  one  story 
will  make  the  labor  of  construction  com- 
paratively easy,  and  the  care  of  the  house 
will  for  the  same  reason  be  made  much 
lighter.  This  will  give  you  considerable 
space  overhead  for  storage,  or  even  sleep- 
ing rooms.  However,  plan  to  save  your 
living  room  all  the  space  clear  to  the  roof. 
Such  an  air  of  largeness  and  comfort  is  to 
be  gained  thereby,  with  the  only  drawback 
of  a  difficulty  of  heating,  though  with  even 
a  moderate  fireplace  a  room  eighteen  by 
twenty  feet,  with  a  twenty- foot  peak,  may 


\.\ 


■^< 


WILDERNESS   HOMES 

be  kept  thoroughly  comfortable  except  in 
the  bitterest  cold  of  the  northern  winters. 

The  veranda  will  be  the  most-used  part 
of  the  house  during  the  summer  season. 
It  should,  therefore,  be  made  generous  in 
its  width — ten  feet  is  not  too  wide — and  as 
long  as  conditions  will  admit  of.  Thus  all 
the  family  may  occupy  it  at  one  time,  and 
during  the  very  hot  days,  when  eating  out- 
of-doors  is  a  luxury,  it  will  be  turned  into 
a  dining  room  far  more  attractive  than  any 
you  could  plan. 

On  a  wide  veranda  hammocks  may  be 
swung  without  their  excluding  large  and 
comfortable  chairs,  and  here,  even  on  a 
rainy  day,  one  will  scarcely  be  forced  in- 
doors. But  if  so,  the  chances  are  that  the 
chill  dampness  will  make  a  fire  desu-able. 
You  will  not  suffer  a  loss  with  the 
exchange. 

Set  the  windows  of  the  sleeping  rooms 

about  four  feet  from  the  floor.     It  is 
8 


w 


MAKING   PLANS 

curious  how  much  of  an  added  sense  of 
security  and  privacy  this  will  give-  For 
there  are  those  who  feel  uncomfortable  in 
sleeping  for  the  first  time  on  the  ground 
floor. 

Measure  carefully  every  inch  of  the  way 
in  your  plan,  and  consider  well  the  utility 
of  every  space ;  thus  you  will  not  find  your- 
self cramped  for  room,  and,  on  the  other 
hand,  you  may  save  yourself  considerable 
expense  of  labor  and  money. 

You  are  not  an  architect,  so  be  modest, 
and  do  not  strive  for  architectural  effects. 
Confine  yourself  altogether  to  ascertaining 
how  few  rooms  you  can  get  along  with, 
and  how  to  get  those  rooms  to  fit  into  the 
given  space,  so  that  each  one  will  be  large 
enough  to  fill  the  requirements.  That 
is  all. 

When  the  plans  are  satisfactory,  you 

will  make  out  a  list  of  things  required  and 

send  your  order  for  them  at  the  earliest 

9 


> 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 

possible  moment.  Two  months  before 
needed  would  not  be  too  soon  in  the  South, 
six  weeks  in  the  North  and  West.  This  is 
not  figurative  language.  I  know  of  what 
I  am  speaking.  Your  list  will  look  like 
this: 

Number  of  logs  needed. 

Number  of  windows  and  sizes.  (Include  if  possible  frames, 
finish,  and  casings.) 

Number  of  doors  and  sizes.  (Include  if  possible  frames, 
and  finish.) 

Amount  of  lumber  for  roofing  and  first  floor,  also  veranda. 
(This  may  be  the  cheapest  grade  of  spruce,  planed  on  one 
side.) 

Amount  of  hard  pine  flooring,  two  and  a  half  inches  wide, 
planed  both  sides. 

Number  of  shingles.  (Extra  1,  cedar.) 

Hinges  for  various  purposes. 

Round-headed  screws  for  window  casings. 

Screws  for  all  the  hardware. 

Locks. 

Window  fasteners. 

Wire  nails.  Lath  for  shingles.  Tenpenny  for  roof  and 
floor  boards,  etc.  Finish  for  windows,  doors,  etc.  Spikes  for 
rafters,  etc.     Eightpenny  floor  for  flooring. 

Building  paper. 

Creosote  stam. 

Number  of  barrels  of  lime. 

Iron  supports  for  fireplace  arch. 

Sheet  lead  for  chimney. 

Sink  and  short  lead  pii)e  for  drain. 

Firebricks  for  lining  chimney. 

Plans  for  the  smaller  "Hunting  Camp'* 
will  require  much  less  material  than  above. 
10 


In  this  Cabin  at  Beaver  Pond,  Elaine,   is   Incorporatecl  a  Chimney  Built  of 
Log's  anil  Ivined  with  Mortar. 


A  Variation  in  Construction  that  Lends  an  Interest  to  the  Finish. 


MAKING   PLANS 

However,  I  should  advise  a  careful  study 
of  your  requirements  even  in  this  case,  so 
that  time  may  be  saved  when  you  have 
reached  the  ground  and  are  ready  for 
business. 

The  pitch  of  the  roof  is  important,  and 
particularly  in  regions  of  heavy  snowfall. 
A  fairly  steep  roof  is  therefore  desirable, 
both  to  lessen  the  strain  and  to  prevent  the 
snow  water  from  being  backed  up  under 
the  shingles  when  a  thaw  is  followed  by  a 
freezing  period. 

Over  the  bedrooms  and  kitchen,  etc.,  a 
floor  of  hard  pine,  planed  on  both  sides, 
may  be  laid,  and  this  will  alwaj^s  give  you 
considerable  space  in  which  to  stow  things, 
or,  as  mentioned  elsewhere,  may  be  turned 
into  a  sleeping  room,  with  spaces  between 
the  floor  and  the  roof  on  either  side  of  the 
room  partitioned  ofl*  for  storage. 

Avoid  hip  roofs  if  possible,  though  occa- 
sionally, in  a  rather  long  stretch,  they  may 
11 


[l^iCjPK 


WILDERNESS   HOMES 

be  used  to  lessen  the  monotony.     Try  to 
keep  the  whole  structure  under  one  con- 


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Suggestions  for  Rustic  Railings,  Etc. 

^^^   tinuous  roof,  for  the  sake  of  economy  of 
time  and  money.     The  construction  of  a 
12 


MAKING  PLANS 

hip  or  a  valley  roof  is  not  difficult,  but  they 
present  features  that  require  care  in  build- 
ing that  they  may  be  water-tight  and 
strong. 

The  matter  of  rustic  effects  in  the  porch 
railings,  etc.,  is  one  allowing  a  wide  latitude 
to  your  inventive  faculties,  and  the  entire 
outside  of  the  camp  may  be  given  a  special 
stamp  of  individuality  by  a  proper  hand- 
ling. In  regions  where  white  birch  may 
be  obtained,  one  could  ask  for  no  finer 
decoration. 


THE    FIREPLACE 


CHAPTER    II 


THE  FIREPLACE 


YOUR  lodge  in  the  wilderness  de- 
mands a  heart  to  make  it  lovable — 
the  fireplace.    And  you  will  want  a 
generous  hearth  built  for  service  rather 
than  for  show,  thus  will  the  old  ties  with 
nature  be  renewed. 

And  do  not  fear  that  building  for  service 
will  detract  from  its  beauty.  My  word  for 
it,  neglect  its  architecture  for  its  utility  and 
it  will  still  "  look  right,"  though  here  as 
elsewhere  we  want  no  sham  honesty  or  fake 
simplicity.  Build  it  for  the  purpose  in- 
tended, and  when  the  chill  gray  days  do 
come  it  will  warm  your  very  soul  with 
cheer  and  make  the  home  complete. 

A  fireplace  of  stones,  with  its  rough- 
ly. 


WILDERNESS   HOMES 


hewn  log  shelf,  falls  at  once  into  complete 
harmony  with  the  cabin  and  its  life.  It 
needs  no  adornment,  yet  everything,  from 
the  flintlock  gun  to  a  snowshoe,  seems  a 
part  of  it. 

Select  your  stones  with  a  care  for  their 
coloration,  and  the  moss  and  lichens  cling- 
ing to  them. 

The  opening  should  be  three  or  four  feet 
wide,  or  even  five;  if  the  room  be  very 
large,  about  two  feet  deep,  and  not  over 
twenty-five  or  twenty-six  inches  high.  To 
hold  cordwood,  the  dimensions  are  about 
four  feet  six  inches  wide  and  three  feet  six 
inches  high.  A  fireplace  should  not  be  too 
deep,  or  an  important  proportion  of  the 
reflected  heat  will  be  lost.  The  sides  should 
not  be  set  at  right  angles  to  the  back,  but 
should  slant  to  nearly  an  angle  of  forty- 
five  degrees. 

Now,  the  draught  of  a  fireplace  is  most 
important,  and  a  mistake  in  the  construc- 
18 


THE    FIREPLACE 


tion  is  almost  impossible  to  correct.  Slope 
the  back  of  the  fireplace  inward  toward  the 
front,  terminating  at  the  throat  about  four 


Sectional  View  of  Chimney  Construction. 
19 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 

or  five  inches  above  the  front  of  the  arch. 
It  should  be  drawn  in  until  the  throat  is 
narrowed  down  to  almost  three  inches. 
This  will  leave  a  ledge  which  will  accelerate 
the  draught,  and  form  a  shelf  to  prevent 
too  great  a  volume  of  air  from  rushing 
down  the  flue. 

Have  the  flue  large ;  it  should  not  be  less 
in  area  than  ten  per  cent,  of  the  area  of  the 
opening  of  the  fireplace.  Constructed  in 
this  way,  you  will  have  no  trouble  from  a 
smoky  fireplace. 

Under  no  circumstances  attempt  to  build 
the  chimney  with  a  woodwork  support. 
Dig  down  in  the  earth  and  lay  a  solid  bed 
of  rocks  and  mortar  as  a  foundation,  the 
full  size  of  the  chimney  and  the  hearth, 
which  should  be  about  twenty-four  inches 
wide.  This  will  keep  the  woodwork  well 
away  from  the  fire.  Neglect  of  this  point, 
where  I  rested  my  hearth  on  woodwork, 
came  very  near  to  having  serious  results. 
20 


This  Fire]ilar-t>  and  Cliiniiity  Ava>  Built  by  an  .Wateur  and 
Occupies  One  Side  of  a  Log  Studio. 


THE    FIREPLACE 


Corbels  may  be  built  out  to  receive  the  ends 
of  the  floor  joists. 

The  fireplace  should  be  lined  with  fire- 
bricks, and  iron  bars  must  be  put  in  to 
support  the  superincumbent  brick  or  stone- 
work. Do  not  trust  too  much  to  your  arch, 
if  you  have  one.  A  couple  of  iron  bars, 
about  two  inches  wide  and  a  quarter  of  an 
inch  thick,  will  make  all  secure. 

Mortar  is  not  difficult  to  prepare.  Get 
unslacked  lime  and  put  it  into  the  box 
which  you  have  made  to  hold  it.  The  lime 
is  now  to  be  slacked  by  wetting  with  water. 
As  you  throw  the  water  on  it  w^ill  heat  up 
and  steam,  and  enough  water  should  be 
added  from  time  to  time  to  keep  the  lime 
from  burning  or  slacking  dry ;  it  should  be 
kept  about  the  consistency  of  thick  paint. 
Lime  should  be  slacked  for  several  days 
before  the  time  for  using  it.  '^^^3^ 

To  a  cask  of  lime  add  six  bushels  of    J^     n 
sand,  and  stir  until  the  lime  and  sand  are 
21 


WILDERNESS   HOMES 

thoroughly  mixed.  It  should  be  thinned 
with  water  until  it  mixes  easily  with  a  hoe. 
It  should  stand  for  two  or  three  days  until 
ready  for  use. 

Cement  will  greatly  increase  the  strength 
of  mortar,  and,  when  desired,  should  be 
added  in  the  proportion  of  one  or  two 
quarts  of  cement  to  each  pailful  of  mortar. 
Remember  that,  with  cement  added,  the 
mortar  will  set  much  more  quickly  than  it 
would  otherwise  do. 

Keep  your  work  plumb  by  means  of 
cords  fastened  by  nails  in  the  roof  and 
floor.  As  your  work  emerges  from  the 
hole  in  the  roof,  select  small  and  flat  rocks 
and  insert  some  sheets  of  lead,  cut  ten 
inches  long  by  eight  inches  wide,  in  the 
difl*erent  layers  of  stone  in  shingle  fashion. 

After   the    chimney    is   completed   the 

shingles  may  be  inserted  in  the  layers  of 

lead,  and  so  make  a  tight  joint  around  the 

chimney. 

32 


o 


THE    FIREPLACE 

Now,  if  you  are  unfamiliar  with  the 
building  of  a  fire,  you  will  be  vastly  enter- 
tained by  your  inability  to  get  the  thing  to 
burn.  One  after  another  the  various  mem- 
bers of  the  family  will  be  inspired  to  try 


Method  of  Leading  Around  Chimney. 

their  hands  and  lungs.  For  pure  cussed 
contrariness,  an  open  fire  takes  the  honors. 
When  you  have  all  given  up  in  despair  and 
left  in  disgust,  the  thing  is  apt  to  start  up 
of  its  own  accord. 

The  shavuigs  which  have  accumulated 
23 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 


during  the  building  of  the  camp  should  be 
kept  for  this  time.  Between  the  fire  dogs 
a  generous  supply  of  dry  shavings ;  on  top 
of  them,  a  few  short,  thin  pieces  of  larger 
wood ;  resting  in  the  fire  dogs,  three  sticks 
of  wood  with  a  space  between  each  stick. 
Across  these,  three  more  sticks,  and  across 
these,  two  more.  Light  the  shavings. 
When  the  fire  is  burning  well  a  large 
greenwood  log  of  maple  or  beech  may  be 
put  against  the  back  wall  as  a  back  log. 
On  top  of  it  another  green  stick  should  be 
laid  and  the  fire  drawn  out  to  the  front  of 
the  fireplace.  A  slight  replenishing  from 
time  to  time  will  keep  a  fine  fire  and  the 
back  logs  will  burn  all  day.  At  night  the 
fire  may  be  banked  by  covering  the  embers 
with  ashes.  In  the  morning  this  covering 
may  be  raked  off,  and  fresh  sticks  laid 
directly  on  the  glowing  coals  will  soon 
spring  into  life  again. 

Soft  wood  will  crack  and  sputter,  and  it 
24 


D.  H.  HILL  LIB«ARr 

North  Carolina  State  Coltego 


A  Hearth  with  INIany  Cracks  is  DiHicult  to  Keep  Clean.     The  Standard  of 
the  Table  is  a  Piece  of  Driftwood. 


If  Rocks  are  at  llaad  to  Build  with,  it  is  not  a  Great  Task  to  Construct  a 
Chimney  at  Once  Distinctive  and  Useful. 


THE    FIREPLACE 

would  be  dangerous  to  leave  a  fire  without 
some  protection.  Even  the  hard  wood  will 
at  times  throw  burning  coals  out  into  the 
room.  A  fire  screen  is  the  solution,  and  is 
easily  made  of  quarter-inch  wire  screen, 
fastened  to  a  frame  of  quarter-inch  steel 
wu-e.  The  screen  should  extend  an  inch 
all  around  outside  the  opening  of  the  fire- 
place. It  should  not  be  flat,  but  should  be 
from  three  to  five  inches  deep.  This  will 
prevent  sparks  from  flying  out  of  the  crack 
between  the  screen  and  chimney.  The 
shape  can  be  had  by  bending  the  screen 
over  a  box  or  similar  form. 

If  a  crane  is  contemplated,  it  should  be 
put  in  place  during  the  building  of  the  fire- 
place. In  the  North,  where  beans  are  a 
prominent  part  of  the  bill  of  fare,  it  would 
be  well  to  have  a  "  bean  hole  "  built  in  the 
center  of  the  fireplace.  Make  it  about 
twelve  inches  square,  and  provide  a  stout 
iron  lid  to  cover  it.  An  u'on  pot  with  an 
25 


'ii^w^^m^ 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 

eccentric-clamped  lid  may  be  kept  here. 
Pork  and  beans  cannot  be  cooked  better 
than  in  such  an  arrangement,  with  the  hot 
coals  covering  it  and  left  overnight. 


26 


THE    AX   AND    THE    TREE 


'/    ^^0^ 


N?*-, 


CHAPTER    III 

THE   AX   AND   THE   TREE 

THE  one  indispensable  tool  in  the 
building  of  a  log  cabin  is  the  ax. 
I  know  a  man  who,  with  no  other 
implement,  can  erect  a  marvelously  com- 
plete cabin;  but  this  degree  of  eificiency 
we  ordinary  people  may  not  hope  to  attain. 
If  you  be  wise,  then,  purchase  the  best 
ax  possible.  The  cost  of  this  will  not  be 
over  $1.25.  An  inferior  one  may  be  had 
as  low  as  75  cents,  but  the  steel  is  not  there. 
Long  before  the  camp  is  finished  you  will 
have  discovered  that  an  ax  which  bites  in 
deep  and  holds  its  cutting  edge  is  desu-able. 
Axes  come  of  varying  weights,  but  for  the 
average  user  one  of  three  and  a  half  or 
three  and  thi-ee-quarter  pounds  is  about 
right. 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 

Perhaps  it  has  not  occurred  to  you  that 
the  "  handle  "  or  helve  was  a  thing  to  be 
considered,  yet  the  dealer  will  put  out  an 
assortment  which,  if  you   examine  them, 
will  be  found  to  consist  of  crooked  and 
straight,  thick  and  thin,  and  varying  com- 
binations of  these.    If  you  have  never  han- 
dled an  ax,  you  will  have  some  difficulty  in 
deciding.    Your  only  guide  probably  will 
be,  after  selecting  one  fairly  crooked,  to 
purchase  the  one  which  feels  best  in  your 
hand.    If  your  fingers  are  short,  do  not  get 
a  handle  too  large  in  diameter,  and  vice 
versa.    Neglected,  this  point  may  occasion 
you  a  painful  period  of  cramped  fingers. 
I  have  seen  men  in  the  woods  (and  they 
forget  to  complain  of  any  hurt)    whose 
grip  had  to  be  loosened  by  the  aid  of  the 
swinging  hand.    An  extra  helve  should  be 
taken  always. 

To  "  hang  "  your  ax  properly  requires 
care,  and  is  important.    If  it  be  hung  too 
30 


THE    AX   AND    THE    TREE 

far  "  out  "  or  too  far  "  in,"  or  if  it  be  out 
of  line,  it  will  lessen  very  materially  the 
effectiveness  of  your  stroke.  Therefore, 
slip  the  helve  into  place  in  the  eye  of  the 
ax,  work  the  "bit"  or  cutting  edge  up 
and  down,  to  see  whether  it  can  be  brought 
to  a  proper  position.    This  means  that  the 


An  Ax  Properly  Hung. 

center  of  the  bit  and  the  knob  on  the  handle 
should  touch  if  the  ax  were  placed  against 
a  straightedge,  as  shown  in  the  plate. 

If  necessary  to  bring  this  about  you  will, 
of  course,  cut  off  a  little  from  the  back  of 
the  helve  until  the  ax  hangs  properly.  Be 
very  careful  to  see  that  the  bit  of  the  ax 
comes  in  direct  line  with  the  helve. 

About  a  half  inch  of  the  helve  should 
31 


w 


WILDERNESS   HOMES 


project  through  the  ax  on  top.  ISTow,  with 
a  chisel  or  another  ax,  split  the  helve 
straight  across  from  the  "  bit "  to  the 
"  poll,"  then  select  a  piece  of  hardwood,  of 
the  width  of  the  handle,  and  make  a  wedge, 
rather  long  and  about  three-sixteenths  of 
an  inch  in  thickness  an  inch  and  a  half 
from  the  point.  Turn  the  ax  upside  down 
and  strike  the  end  of  the  handle  a  few 
sharp  blows.  This  will  set  the  ax  on  tight. 
Sight  it  once  more  to  make  sure  that  it  has 
not  gone  out  of  line.  If  all  is  right,  insert 
the  wedge  in  the  slot  and  drive  it  in  tight. 
Then  with  a  saw  cut  off  the  projecting 
ends  of  the  helve  and  wedge  flush  with  the 
ax.  You  may  depend  upon  it,  this  will 
never  come  loose.  A  small  whetstone  (one 
of  carborundum  is  best)  will  keep  the  edge 
keen. 

Occasionally,  however,  the  ax  must  come 
to  the  grindstone,  for  in  spite  of  every 
effort  to  avoid  injury,  the  nicks  will  ap- 
32 


THE    AX   AND    THE    TREE 


pear.  Do  not  attempt  to  cut  off  the  knotty 
stubs  of  hemlock — they  are  Hke  iron.  Bat- 
ter them  off  with  the  poll  of  the  ax. 

It  is  best  to  fell  your  lumber  in  the 
spring,  say  from  May  to  July.  At  this 
time  the  sap  will  run  and  the  bark  may 
then  be  easily  stripped.  After  that,  you 
may  find  some  day  that  it  is  difficult  or 
impossible  to  peel  the  bark;  then  the  only 
alternative  is  to  shave  the  bark  off  with  a 
drawshave;  but  this  spoils  the  beauty  of 
the  log. 

To  peel  the  bark  from  a  tree  or  log,  cut 
two  circles  completely  around  the  log  about 
four  or  five  feet  apart,  and  connect  these 
with  another  cut  lengthwise  of  the  log. 
Insert  the  edge  of  the  ax  to  start  the  bark. 
If  the  sap  is  running  well,  it  will  strip 
easily,  requiring  but  little  loosening  from 
time  to  time  with  the  ax  or  a  "  spud," 
which  is  a  short  stick  of  hard  wood  tapered 
at  one  end  to  a  flat  edge. 
33 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 

Should  the  bark  be  desired  for  roofing, 
it  should  be  flattened  out  and  kept  away 
from  the  ground  to  dry. 

Any  of  the  soft  woods  may  be  used  for 
building — pine,  fir,  spruce,  etc. — accord- 
ing to  the  growth  of  timber  handiest. 
Maple,  birch,  beech,  etc.,  will  be  much  too 
heavy  to  handle  and  hard  to  work. 

It  is  a  simple  matter  to  estimate  the 
height  of  a  tree  by  standing  off  a  short 
distance  and  guessing  the  probable  height 
of  the  first  branches.  If  they  are  ten  feet 
from  the  ground,  make  mental  divisions 
of  the  tree  in  ten-foot  lengths,  and  you  will 
be  surprised  how  near  your  estimate  will 
be  correct. 

Before  you  cut  into  a  tree,  make  sure 
that  it  does  not  taper  too  suddenly,  and 
sight  it  carefully  that  it  may  not  have  a 
bad  crook  in  it  that  will  make  it  unavaila- 
ble. Certainty  here  will  save  you  much 
labor,  to  say  nothing  of  the  regret  which 
34 


THE    AX   AND    THE    TREE 

must  come  to  a  lover  of  the  woods  with 
any  wanton  destruction.  Keep  in  mind 
that  it  takes  only  twenty  minutes  to  cut 
down  a  tree,  hut  thirty  years*  growth  will 
scarcely  replace  it. 

Having  decided  upon  your  tree,  make 
sure  of  the  best  direction  for  its  fall.  It 
is  important  that  it  should  not  lodge  in  the 
branches  of  neighboring  trees.  Should 
such  an  event  come  to  pass,  exercise  every 
care  in  your  effort  to  dislodge  it.  A  fall- 
ing tree  has  a  way  of  trapping  the  unwary, 
the  results  of  which  are  apt  to  be  serious. 
Studj^  the  situation  well. 

Trim  away  very  carefully  all  the  under- 
brush within  the  reach  of  your  swinging 
ax,  and  thus  avoid  injury.  An  ax  diverted 
from  its  course  strikes  with  the  quickness 
of  a  flash. 

Begin  to  cut  on  the  side  of  the  tree 
facing  the  direction  of  its  intended  fall. 
Your  notch  will  be  quite  wide  to  prevent 
35  ' 


WILDERNESS   HOMES 


the  ax  from  wedging  as  it  bites  its  way 
into  the  tree,  a  blow  from  above  to  make 
the  chip  and  a  blow  from  below  to  cut  it 
out.  Work  slowly  and  deliberately,  so 
that  each  blow  may  count,  but  do  not  exert 
yourself  unduly.  Let  the  weight  of  the 
ax  do  its  share  of  the  work.  Eventually 
you  will  achieve  some  accuracy,  and  then 
the  stumps  will  approximate  that  planed- 
oif  appearance  which  a  lumberman  leaves. 
Yours  will  not  look  that  way. 

When  you  have  the  notch  a  little  more 
than  halfway  through  the  tree,  begin  a 
similar  cut  on  the  opposite  side,  somewhat 
higher  than  the  first  cut.  In  a  thick  growth 
you  may  have  to  cut  very  deeply,  but 
presently  the  tree  will  pitch  slightly  in  the 
direction  of  its  fall,  and  at  the  next  stroke 
it  will  crack  and  settle  to  the  earth.  Step 
to  one  side  when  this  occurs,  never  in  the 
opposite  direction  of  its  fall,  for  some  trees 
have  a  nasty  habit  of  springing  back  from 
•  36 


%",-,•« 


THE    AX   AND    THE    TREE 

the  stump,  and  woe  to  the  individual  in 
their  path! 

For  dressing  small  timber,  cut  two  logs 
four  feet  long  and  about  one  foot  in  diam- 
eter. Bore  three  large  holes  through  one 
of  these  logs,  two  about  six  inches  from 
each  end  and  one  in  the  middle.  Make 
three  hardwood  pins  to  fit  the  holes,  and 
drive  one  through  the  middle  hole  so  that 
it  projects  about  one  foot.  Now  fasten 
the  pin  upright  by  driving  two  more  pins 
through  the  two  end  holes  into  the  ground, 
to  hold  the  log  firmly.  The  other  log 
should  have  a  notch  cut  in  the  center  about 
six  inches  deep. 

Bore  a  hole  through  the  log  to  be  hewn, 
about  four  inches  from  the  end,  and  fit  it 
over  the  pin,  the  other  end  of  the  log  lying 
in  the  notched  stick.  Snap  a  line  for  your 
cut,  then  you  should  commence  with  your 
ax  to  "  score  in  and  beat  off  "  up  nearly  to 
the  line.  That  is,  strike  a  sharp  blow  with 
37 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 


the  ax  from  the  side  of  the  log,  slanting  in 
toward  the  line,  but  not  quite  touching  it. 
Another  blow  in  the  opposite  direction  will 
cause  the  chip  to  fly  out.  Arriving  at  the 
end  of  the  log,  begin  hewing  carefully  to 
the  line.  You  will  be  surprised  how  quickly 
all  this  can  be  accomplished.  Of  course, 
all  the  cutting  is  done  on  the  side  of  the  log. 
The  work  may  be  made  more  complete 
now  by  running  a  plane  over  it  once  or 
twice. 

In  the  course  of  your  work  it  may  be 
your  misfortune  to  break  the  ax  helve,  and 
you  will  thereby  be  confronted  with  the 
problem  of  removing  the  stub,  which  you 
wedged  in  with  the  idea  of  its  never  coming 
out.  Horace  Kephart,  in  his  excellent 
book,  "  Camping  and  Woodcraft,"  gives 
a  simple  solution  to  the  problem : 

"  When  the  stub  of  the  old  handle  can- 
not be  removed  by  ordinary  means,  it  must 
be  burned  out.  To  do  this  without  draw- 
38 


THE   AX   AND   THE   TREE 


ing  the  temper  of  the  steel  might  seem 
impracticable,  but  the  thing  is  as  simple  as 
rolling  off  a  log  when  you  see  it  done. 
Pick  out  a  spot  where  the  earth  is  free  from 
stones  and  pebbles,  and  drive  the  blade 
of  the  ax  into  the  ground  up  to  the  eye. 
Then  build  a  fire  around  the  ax  head — 
that  is  all." 

A  cant-dog  and  a  cross-cut  saw  are  tools 
which  will  greatly  facilitate  work  on  logs. 
Other  tools  which  you  wiU  need  on  the  bet- 
ter class  of  buildings  are :  Handsaws — rip- 
and  crosscut,  steel  square,  level,  hammer, 
brace  and  bits,  chisels,  drawshave,  two-foot 
rule,  chalk  line  and  chalk,  bevel,  com- 
passes, large  and  small  planes.  Have 
your  saws  well  sharpened  and  keep  a  good 
whetstone  handy,  so  that  your  tools  may 
never  become  dull. 

Many  of  the  operations  connected  with 
the  building  will  take  place  in  the  spring, 
and  in  many  sections  this  is  the  happiest 
39 


WILDERNESS   HOMES 

time  of  the  year  for  the  joyous  mosquito, 
the  black  fly,  the  minge,  the  no-see-um  and 
ad  infinitum.  Some  protection  from  these 
pests  is  necessary,  and  a  "  dope  "  that  can 
be  smeared  on  Hberally  over  face,  neck, 
ears  and  hands  should  be  provided.  This 
is  important,  and  overlooking  so  simple  a 
thing  may  be  the  occasion  for  your  quit- 
ting work  after  the  first  half -hour,  with 
the  necessity  of  going  "  to  town  "  to  repair 
the  oversight. 

There  are  several  varieties  of  "  dope  " 
on  the  market,  and  about  every  woodsman 
has  a  kind  of  his  own.  They  are  all  good 
so  long  as  they  will  give  a  greasy  coating, 
and  this  must  be  renewed  from  time  to 
time.    My  own  concoction  is : 

Oil  of  PennjToyal 1  oz. 

Sweet  Oil 6  oz. 

Ammoiiia 1  oz. 


40 


^  'Wnwihili 


BUILDING    THE    CABIN 


CHAPTER   IV 

BUILDING   THE   CABIN 

CUT  four  stakes.  Now,  when  you 
have  decided  upon  the  exact  posi- 
tion you  wish  your  building  to 
occupy,  drive  one  of  the  stakes  at  a  corner. 
Measure  the  width  of  the  building  and 
drive  another  stake,  and  stretch  a  cord  be- 
tween the  two.  Then  at  a  point  as  nearly 
as  you  can  judge  at  right  angles  to  this, 
measure  off  the  length  of  the  cabin  and 
set  the  third  stake.  Now  two  more  meas- 
urements of  length  and  width  from  the 
first  and  last  stakes  set  will  give  you  the 
approximate  position  for  the  cabin. 

Inside  these  stakes,  and  on  the  line  laid 
down,  you  will  build  four  temporary  piers, 
either  of  stones  or  of  logs,  of  about  the 
43 


:\ 


WILDERNESS   HOMES 

height  you  desire  the  building  above  the 
ground,  remembering  that  the  floor  will  be 
six  to  eight  inches  higher. 

Put  your  sills  together  on  top  of  these 
supports,  and  begin  to  level  them.  For 
this  purpose  you  will  require  a  straight- 
edge about  twenty  feet  long.  Make  it  by 
nailing  a  couple  of  boards  together  that 
are  about  six  inches  wide,  and  long  enough, 
of  course,  to  give  the  desired  length.  Rest 
the  straightedge  upon  the  two  parallel 
sills,  and  be  very  sure  to  place  your  level 
on  the  center  of  the  straightedge,  for  this 
will  sag  some,  and  the  sills  may  then  be 
blocked  up  until  they  are  level. 

The  sills  are  now  to  be  set  square.  To 
do  this,  snap  a  chalkline  down  the  center 
of  two  adjoining  logs.  From  the  cor- 
ner measure  six  feet  on  one  log  and  eight 
feet  on  the  log  at  right  angles.  Then,  with 
\  a  ten-foot  pole  laid  across  to  these  points, 

\       push  or  pull  the  logs  until  the  two  ends  of 


An  ExiK  rt  ;it  J.o^r  (  al.iii  lJLul(liiii,r  (  an  Make  a  Joint  of  the  J.ogs 
that  is  Almost  Perfect. 


BUILDING    THE    CABIN 

the  pole  exactly  touch  the  six-  and  eight- 
foot  points.  Your  building  will  be  square, 
and  the  sills  should  be  spiked  together. 
Try  the  level  once  more. 

Lay  the  foundation  on  a  firm  basis.  You 
will  probably  have  to  go  below  the  loam 
or  upper  crust  of  earth  to  the  hard  gravel 
beneath.  Secure  flat  rocks,  if  possible,  and 
if  your  piers  (which  should  be  every  four 
feet)  are  built  of  them,  be  absolutely  sure 
that  each  rock  rests  firmly  and  with  no 
"  teetering  "  on  those  beneath.  Break  the 
joints  carefully.  "  If  a  rock  doesn't  fit, 
turn  it  over,"  is  an  adage  of  the  stonelayer. 
It  will  usually  be  the  solution. 

Perhaps  wooden  posts  would  be  better. 
These  will  last  much  longer  if  their  ends 
rest  upon  a  rock.  But  bear  this  in  mind,  a 
rock  in  contact  with  the  earth  will  sweat 
and  the  moisture  would  in  time  rot  the 
posts.    This  is  easily  avoided  by  using  two  ;^. 

rocks,  one  on  top  of  the  other.    The  upper 
45 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 

rock  will  never  sweat.  Cedar  posts  are 
best,  though  other  soft  woods,  as  pine, 
hemlock,  etc.,  will  do;  the  hard  woods  are 
not  so  durable.  Treating  posts  to  a  good 
application  of  creosote  will  add  much  to 
their  life. 

When  the  supports  are  all  fitted  and  in 
place  they  should  be  braced  by  two  pieces 
running  from  the  posts  to  the  bottom  of 
the  sills.  The  temporary  piers  may  be 
taken  away  when  a  sufficient  number  of 
the  permanent  piers  are  in  place. 

Divide  the  length  of  the  cabin  as  nearly 
as  possible  into  spaces  of  about  eighteen 
inches  and  mark  oflp  these  divisions  on  the 
long  sills ;  this  gives  you  the  position  of  the 
floor  timbers. 

The  sills  should  now  be  notched  to  re- 
ceive them.  The  notches  may  be  two  or 
two-and-a-half  inches  deep,  measuring 
from  the  top  of  the  log,  and  about  four 

inches  across. 

46 


^''^12^',','zJ.i- 


BUILDING    THE    CABIN 


The  floor  logs  must  be  squared  on  one 
side,  and  each  end  cut  down  to  fit  the  size 
of  the  notches  in  the  sills.  Thus  you  will 
have  an  absolutely  level  floor,  in  spite  of 


Sills  Notched  for  the  Timbers.    Method  of  Bracing 
Supporting  Posts. 

the  fact  that  the  logs  used  for  timbers  are 
of  varying  diameters. 

Now  you  are  ready  to  begin  on  the  walls. 
Put  your  first  log  in  place  and  mark  it  for 
the  cut  for  the  under  log,  leaving  at  least 
one  foot  or  fifteen  inches  of  the  log  to  pro- 
ject at  either  end  outside  of  the  building. 
This  can  best  be  done  with  a  pair  of  com- 


47 


,t--:.  i 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 

passes,  set  the  depth  of  the  intended  cut. 
Holding  the  compasses  so  that  one  point 
is  directly  over  the  other,  let  one  point  rest 
against  the  side  of  the  bottom  log,  the 
other  point  touching  the  bottom  of  the  top 
log.     If  you   now   move  the   compasses 


'•'^>>'^md(£^^\}j))imm 


^ ^^m^mmjM 


When  an  Opening  in  the  Floor  is  Desired  this  is  the  Method 
of  Handhng  the  Timbers. 

slowly  over  the  bottom  log,  the  upper  point 
will  mark  the  exact  shape  of  the  cut  to  be 
made.  This  should  be  done  on  two  sides 
of  the  log.  When  the  operation  is  com- 
pleted, take  the  log  down  and  turn  it  bot- 
tom side  up  to  make  the  notch.  The  notch 
is  always,  of  course,  on  the  bottom  to  pre- 
vent the  water  from  getting  in  and  rotting 
48 


BUILDING   THE    CABIN 

the  log.  The  notch  should  be  slightly 
scooped  out  in  the  center,  so  that  the  outer 
edges  may  be  brought  to  a  joint.  The  log 
is  now  put  in  place  and,  if  it  fits  properly, 
may  be  fastened  to  the  under  log  by  a 
spike  driven  through  the  corner. 


On  a  long  reach  on  the  sides  of  a  larger 
building  (eighteen  feet  or  more)  the  logs 
should  be  fastened  together  by  an  addi- 
tional iron  pin,  driven  through  about  the 
center  of  the  logs. 

It  will  often  happen  that  the  poles  are 
not  straight;  you  may  force  the  bend  out 
49 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 

of  the  log  by  means  of  the  cant-dog. 
Therefore,  if  the  upper  log  is  to  be  pulled 
in,  set  the  hook  in  the  upper  log,  with  the 
point  resting  on  the  lower  one.  Now 
pull  on  the  lever  and  the  log  will  be  forced 
into  place.    Then  drive  your  iron  pin. 

These  iron  pins  may  be  had  of  any  black- 
smith, and  consist  of  lengths  of  half -inch 
rod,  sharpened  at  one  end. 

If  your  logs  are  six  inches  at  their  larg- 
est diameter,  pins  of  ten  inches  in  length 
will  be  about  right. 

The  logs  should  be  laid  alternating  butts 
and  ends,  and  from  time  to  time  measure- 
ments should  be  made  to  ascertain  whether 
the  four  walls  are  going  up  of  equal 
heights.  If  not,  look  through  your  logs 
and  select  those  of  larger  or  smaller  diame- 
ters, so  that  the  difficulty  may  be  fairly 
met. 

When  you  reach  the  height  of  the  win- 
dows and  doors,  make  two  saw  cuts  in  the 
50 


fgn^^m^'- 


"-.■■  'SstBai'  ■  ?*' 


BUILDING   THE    CABIN 

last  log  and  almost  through  it.  This  leaves 
an  opportunity  for  the  further  sawing 
when  the  time  comes.  It  would  be  disas- 
trous to  make  the  openings  now,  for  the 
corners  of  the  building  would  be  left  en- 
tirely unsupported. 

You  will  have  found  it  no  easy  task  to 
raise  the  heavy  logs  into  position;  as  the 
walls  rise,  the  difficulty  increases.  You 
will  need  skids  on  which  to  roll  the  logs  up, 
and  these  are  merely  two  logs  laid  from  the 
ground  to  the  top  log.  Lay  the  new  log 
at  the  foot  of  these.  On  the  upper  log  of 
the  cabin  fasten  a  rope  opposite  each  skid. 
Carry  the  ropes  down  and  around  the  ends 
of  the  log  to  be  raised  and  back  again  to 
the  top  log.  The  log  may  now  be  easily 
drawn  up  by  means  of  the  ropes. 


61 


THE    ROOF    AND    THE    FLOOR 


J' 


CHAPTER   V 

THE   ROOF   AND   THE   FLOOR 

YOU  should  make  a  miter  box  now, 
so  that  the  rafters  may  be  all  cut 
to  a  true  and  proper  bevel  for  the 
ridge  board. 

Now  build  a  staging  down  the  center  of 
the  camp,  high  enough  so  that  the  rafters 
can  be  nailed  easily.  Then  put  the  ridge 
board  in  place,  after  marking  the  positions 
for  the  rafters ;  this  may  be  a  board  of  the 
proper  length  of  about  seven-eighths  or 
inch  stuff,  and  slightly  wider  than  the 
diameter  of  the  beveled  ends  of  the  rafters. 
The  end  logs  may  be  continued  to  the 
peak,  spiking  them  to  the  two  rafters  laid 
in  place.    With  an  ax,  hew  the  ends  of  the 

logs  down  to  the  pitch. 

55 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 


Prepare  the  rafters  with  theu*  bevel  and 
put  one  temporarily  in  place  while  the 
place  for  the  notch  to  fit  over  the  top  log 
is  marked,  leaving  a  proper  length  to  pro- 
ject for  the  eaves.  The  rafter  is  then 
^  taken  down  to  cut  the 
^yy^  notch,  after  which  it 
is  once  more  put  in 
>-'  ^^  place,  where,  if  it  is 

Gj^^Vrx  found  to  fit  properly, 

two  spikes  are  driven 
through  the  rafter 
into  the  top  log  and  the  upper  end  is  made 
fast  with  three  tenpenny  wire  nails. 

When  the  last  rafter  is  put  in  place  it  is 
time  to  cut  your  doors  and  windows.  Snap 
a  chalkline  and  nail  a  piece  of  inch  stuff 
to  the  logs  as  a  guide  to  the  saw.  A  piece 
of  two-by-six  is  spiked  in  place  perpen- 
dicularly against  the  ends  of  the  logs,  and 
about  two  spikes  should  be  driven  in  each 
log.  You  are  ready  for  the  roof. 
56 


THE    ROOF   AND   THE    FLOOR 

Begin  at  the  bottom  to  board  up  the 
roof,  forcing  the  boards  as  close  together 
as  possible  by  driving  a  heavy  chisel  or 
other  implement  into  the  rafter  close  to 
the  board,  and  pulling  on  the  handle  until 
the  joint  is  tight. 

Nail  each  board  well  at  every  rafter. 
When  you  have  laid  the  boards  nearly  as 
far  up  as  you  can  conveniently  reach,  fit  in 
a  board  which  do  not  nail.  After  nailing 
one  board  above  this  in  place,  remove  the 
loose  one  and  put  it  aside  w^here  it  can  be 
readily  found  when  again  needed.  A  mark 
will  make  certain  of  getting  the  right  one 
in  the  right  place.  This  open  space  left 
will  afford  a  convenient  foothold  while  lay- 
ing the  next  series  of  boards,  which  pro- 
ceed with  as  before.  When  the  last  board 
at  the  peak  is  laid  then  the  open  spaces  may 
be  fitted,  as  you  come  down,  with  the 
boards  put  aside  for  the  purpose. 

There  will  be  a  small  space  left  between 
57 


WILDERNESS   HOMES 


the  top  log  and  the  roof,  which  should  be 
filled  in  with  a  round  stick,  fitted  between 
the  rafters  and  spiked  in  place  and  the  roof 
board  nailed  down  to  this. 

Your  shingles  will  be  what  are  known  as 
extra  1.  They  are  a  medium  grade  of 
cedar  shingle,  and  the  best  for  your  pur- 
pose. Shingles  may  also  be  had  in  spruce, 
fir,  or  pine.  These  are  cheaper  grades  and 
useful  mainly  for  sidewalls,  etc.  They 
warp  badly,  split  easily  with  the  weather, 
and  rot  quickly.  They  are  unfitted  for 
roofing.  One  thousand  shingles,  laid  five 
inches  to  the  weather,  will  cover  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty  square  feet  of  surface. 

The  life  of  a  shingle  may  be  very 
greatly  prolonged  if  it  be  soaked  in  one  of 
the  many  preparations  of  creosote  stain  on 
the  market  before  laying.  This,  besides, 
will  give  your  roof  the  tone  which  you  have 
decided  upon. 

Staining  the  shingles  after  they  are  in 
58 

;  t 


THE   ROOF   AND   THE    FLOOR 

place  involves  considerable  hard  work,  and 
while  the  color  is  achieved  no  particular 
benefit  of  longevity  is  imparted  to  the 
shingle. 

The  creosote  mixture  may  be  put  in  a 
bucket  or  other  vessel  and  the  shingles 
dipped  for  about  half  of  their  length  and 
thrown  in  a  loose  pile  to  dry. 

For  the  sake  of  greater  warmth,  the  les- 
sening of  draughts  and  the  discourage- 
ment of  insects,  building  paper  should  be 
tacked  on  the  roof  before  laying  the 
shingles.  Paper  strips  should  always  lap 
over  about  three  inches. 

Commence  to  lay  these  at  the  eaves, 
leaving  about  two  or  two  and  a  half  inches 
to  project.  At  the  sides  of  the  roof  the 
shingles  should  project  about  half  an  inch. 

After  the  first  course  is  down  another 
course  of  shingles  is  to  be  laid  directly  on 
top  of  them,  remembering  to  break  the 
joints  fairly  so  that  no  joint  comes  within 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 


an  inch  and  a  half  or  two  inches  of  each 
other.  Two  shingle  nails,  driven  six  or 
seven  inches  from  the  lower  edge  of  the 
shingle,  will  hold  it  firmly. 

For  the  sake  of  facilitating  the  matter 
of  laying  shingles,  nail  two  or  three  boards 
together  that  will  be  the  length  of  your 
roof;  these  should  be  five  inches  wide.  If 
you  have  been  careful  to  get  your  first 
two  courses  of  shingles  on  parallel  with 
the  eaves,  this  five-inch  strip  can  now  be 
put  in  place,  its  lowxr  edge  flush  with  the 
bottom  of  the  shingles  at  the  eaves.  A  few 
nails  driven  lightly  through  the  five-inch 
strip  at  intervals  will  hold  it  in  place.  The 
next  course  of  shingles  may  be  quickly 
laid  in  place,  breaking  joints  carefully  as 
before.  Now  go  back  and  nail  them,  then 
move  the  guide-board  up  for  the  next 
course,  and  so  on  to  the  top,  sawing  off*  the 
projecting  ends  of  the  shingles  at  the 
ridge.  Leave  a  space  of  about  eighteen 
60 


THE   ROOF    AND   THE    FLOOR 


inches  unshingled  around  the  chimney  hole 
until  the  leading  is  completed. 

Of  course,  it  is  a  simple  matter  to  snap 
a  chalk  line  on  the  shingles  as  a  guide  in 
laying  succeeding  courses,  should  you  not 
desire  to  make  the  guide-board,  but  if  the 
roof  is  of  any  size  I  would  not  advise  the 
chalk  method. 

To  complete  the  roof,  a  saddle  board  on 
the  ridge  is  necessary,  and  this  may  be 
made  of  boards  nailed  together  like  a 
trough,  after  getting  the  proper  bevel;  a 
far  better  method,  and  more  thoroughly  in 
keeping  with  your  log  cabin,  however,  is 
to  hew  out  a  log  for  the  saddle  board.  Do 
not  fasten  this  in  place,  however,  until  the 
leading  around  the  chimney  (spoken  of  in 
the  chapter  on  fireplaces)  has  been  put  in 
place. 

The  building  may  now  be  calked  with 
cotton  waste,  moss,  or  excelsior,  their  rela- 
tive value  being  in  the  order  given.  Cot- 
61 


t-. 


^ 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 

ton  waste,  however,  is  by  long  odds  the 
best,  being  cleaner,  easier  to  use,  and  not 
given  to  swelling  up  and  working  out  with 
the  dampness  and  frost,  as  are  the  last  two. 
A  good  calking  tool  may  be  made  of  any 
hard  wood  stick,  shaping  it  somewhat  like 
a  cold  chisel.  It  may  be  an  inch  or  more 
in  diameter,  and  the  flat  edge  should  be 
about  two  inches  wide;  with  this  and  a 
mallet  or  hammer  the  waste  may  easily  be 
driven  firmly  between  the  logs.  With  a 
crosscut  saw  trim  oif  the  projecting  ends 
of  the  logs  to  about  eight  inches. 

In  the  smaller  camps  it  is  sometimes 
desirable  to  have  the  rafters  run  the  length 
of  the  cabin  rather  than  from  the  eaves  to 
the  ridge.  To  accomplish  this,  the  logs  in 
the  peak  should  be  put  in  place,  spiked,  and 
cut  to  the  pitch.  Then  the  ridgepole  is 
put  in  place  and  spiked,  resting  on  the  two 
opposite  top  logs.  At  intervals  of  about 
'\         three  feet  down  the  pitch  a  notch  is  cut  for 

62 


THE    ROOF   AND   THE    FLOOR 

the  other  rafters  at  the  very  end  of  the 
logs,  making  sure,  as  you  lay  them,  that 
their  outer  edges  are  on  a  fair  line  with 
your  pitch. 

The  roof  boards  in  this  instance  are  then 
cut  to  the  proper  length  and  laid  across 
the  rafters — of  course,  with  the  pitch  of 
the  roof. 

While  a  single  floor  may  answer  the 
requu-ements,  after  a  fashion,  you  should 
make  your  plans  for  a  double  floor,  with 
at  least  one  thickness  of  building  paper 
in  between;  thus  you  are  insured  of 
warmth  and  dryness  and  freedom  from 
mice  and  many  strange  and  wandering  in- 
sects. The  second  floor  is  not  to  be  laid, 
however,  until  the  masonry  and  other  heavy 
work  is  completed;  then  Islj  your  floor  of 
"hard  pine,"  and  at  once  put  whatever 
finish  you  may  contemplate  using  on  it. 

Soft  woods  will  not  do  at  all  for  the 
floor.  They  soon  show  wear,  and  if  any 
63  , 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 

care  has  been  taken  to  make  them  attract- 
ive, they  will  quickly  part  with  their  early 
promise,  and  no  amount  of  work  will  make 
them  right  again. 

Hard  pine  or  North  Carolina  pine 
makes  the  best  floor  for  the  purpose,  with 
boards  not  over  two  and  a  half  inches  wide, 
hammered  up  close  and  blind-nailed.  This 
may  seem  somewhat  extravagant,  but  the 
economy  will  become  quickly  apparent. 

The  smaller  camps  are  sometimes  left 
unfloored,  and  while  a  camp  built  this  way 
may  be  kept  quite  clean,  there  are  many 
who  object  to  bare  ground.  A  good  floor 
may  be  made  of  poles  with  the  upper  sur- 
face squared.  This  flooring  is  perfectly 
solid  and  good,  but  vermin  of  various  sorts 
will  soon  find  the  cosy  home  provided  be- 
neath the  floor,  unless  the  cracks  are  kept 
well  calked  with  moss,  etc. 

Do  not  permit  yourself  to  be  drawn  into 

considering  thatched  roofs,  etc.,  and  bark 

64 


THE    ROOF    AND   THE    FLOOR 

roofs  are  generally  a  delusion  and  a  snare. 
If  shingles  are  not  available,  used  tarred 
paper.  This  is  by  no  means  long-lived, 
but  is  tight  while  it  lasts,  is  easily  put  on 
and  equally  easy  to  renew  when  the  occa- 
sion requires.  For  many  reasons  a  camp 
in  the  wilderness  has  a  tendency  to  attract 
and  hold  the  dampness.  Therefore,  avoid 
the  causes  as  far  as  possible.  A  leaky  roof 
is  an  abomination. 

Birch  bark,  of  course,  makes  the  best 
roof  of  all  the  barks,  but  it  has  a  tendency 
to  warp  and  crack  that  requires  you  to  be 
very  careful  in  laying  it.  Of  course,  it 
must  be  peeled  in  the  spring,  and  should 
be  "  shingled  "  on  the  roof  carefully,  else 
you  will  find  that  the  winter  snows  and  ice 
have  made  a  sad  job  of  your  work.  The 
little  camp  shown  on  page  114  was  roofed 
with  birch  bark  some  seven  years  ago,  but 
my  memory  of  its  warmth  and  dryness  was 
sadly  shattered  when  I   revisited  it  last  % 

65         ^__^  I;. 


^=^ 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 


summer  for  the  purpose  of  making  the 
photographs. 

Should   your   plans   call   for   a   "  hip  " 
roof,  the  construction  is  the  same  as  that 


given  for  a  straight  roof,  with  this  differ- 
ence: the  ridgeboard  ends  at  the  point  of 
the  new  slant,  and  two  rafters  are  run  up 
from  the  corners  of  the  building,  meeting 


THE    ROOF   AND   THE    FLOOR 


at  the  point  in  the  roof.  Then  other  rafters 
are  fitted  to  these,  ending  at  the  eaves  as 
before. 

If  you  are  wise  you  will  purchase  your 
windows  with  their  finish,  casings,  etc.,  and 
thus  have  a  tight  and  satisfactory  job. 
They  are  easily  set  in  place  and  the  method 
of  procedure  will  be  at  once  apparent  when 
you  see  them. 

Steps  to  the  porch  may  be  constructed 
very  simply.  If  you  need  three  steps,  de- 
termine the  width  of  each  tread,  say  ten 
inches.  Cut  two  logs  thirty  inches  long, 
about  seven  or  eight  inches  in  diameter,  and 
face  the  top  of  the  logs.  Then  cut  two 
more  logs  the  width  of  two  steps  combined, 
or  twenty  inches.  After  facing  these,  lay 
them  on  top  of  the  first  two  logs,  keeping 
the  back  ends  of  all  the  logs  even.  Now, 
two  more  logs  of  the  width  of  one  step,  or 
ten  inches,  faced  and  laid  as  before,  gives 
you  a  solid  base  on  which  to  nail  the  treads. 
67 

r 


WILDERNESS   HOMES 


Should  your  plans  call  for  a  sheet-iron 
pipe  for  a  smokestack,  care  must  be  taken 
that  the  woodwork  be  kept  well  out  of  the 
way.  Cut  a  circular  hole  in  the  roof  at 
least  six  inches  wider  in  diameter  than  the 


7 


■t  / 1,  ,i  >-^ 


Safe  Method  of  Bringing  a  Stovepipe  through  the  Roof. 

stovepipe.  Have  a  large  piece  of  galva- 
nized tin  with  a  tube  three  inches  long  set 
in  it.  This  is  to  be  fastened  to  the  roof  and 
then  the  shingles  put  down  on  it,  keeping 
them  well  away  from  the  smokestack.    At 

the  bottom  the  tin  will  lay  on  top  of  the 

68 


THE    ROOF    AND    THE    FLOOR 

shingle  course,  while  the  upper  edge  will 
be  pushed  under  the  shingles. 

In  the  hunting  lodges  it  may  not  be 
practicable  to  "  carry  in  "  such  an  arrange- 
ment. A  substitute  may  be  made  from  a 
section  of  stovepipe,  opened  at  the  seam 
and  flattened  out.  JNIark  with  another  sec- 
tion of  pipe  the  size,  and  cut  this  out  with- 
out attempting  the  turned-up  part.  When 
the  sheet  is  fastened  in  place  the  pipe  may 
be  simply  shoved  through.  This  is  not, 
of  course,  absolute^  water-tight,  but  it 
will  do. 


69 


THE    CABIN   AND    ITS 
ENVIRONMENT 


CHAPTER   VI 

THE  CABIN  AND  ITS  ENVIRONMENT 

THERE  are  two  factors  which  must 
be  considered  when  the  time  comes 
to  fit  the  cabin  to  the  situation. 
First,  the  fixed  meteorological  conditions, 
such  as  sunshine,  the  prevailing  sum- 
mer breezes,  etc.,  and  next  the  outlook. 
These  may  present  conflicting  claims.  It 
is  hard  to  generalize  about  unknown  sites, 
but  a  few  essentials  must  be  kept  in  mind 
for  any  situation. 

Give  the  prospect  first  place,  for  your  s^ 

wood  home  is  to  be  regarded  rather  as  a 
shelter  into  which  you  have  brought  all  the       ^^ 
great  out-doors  possible,  and  to  which  you 
may  turn  when  the  real  out-doors  shall 
73 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 

make  you  seek  it.  Sunlight  you  must 
have,  for  part  of  the  day  at  least,  especially 
during  the  early  morning  hours.  It  is  uni- 
versally conceded  to  be  more  hygienic  the 
more  the  camp  is  exposed  to  the  sunlight. 
For  this  reason,  when  the  time  for  clearing 
away  the  trees  comes,  thin  them  out  around 
the  camp  more  than  you  have  ever  intended 
to  do  with  a  wood  home.  Thus  the  sun- 
light and  aromatic  odors  of  the  forest  will 
rush  in  upon  you,  and  the  cabin  will  take 
on  an  added  charm. 

Of  course,  you  will  not  build  in  a  marshy 
or  low  situation.  In  the  woods  it  is  well  to 
look  for  indications  of  what  occurs  during 
or  after  a  protracted  period  of  rain. 
Otherwise  you  may  build  in  a  spot  which 
seems  ideal,  only  to  find  that  your  cabin 
is  directly  in  the  path  of  all  the  rushing 
surface  water  of  your  vicinity.  There- 
fore, seek  an  elevation  so  as  to  have  good 

drainage. 

74 


v*d^:: 


;'*:r:3?»^. 


THE    CABIN 

Naturally  one  of  the  first  considerations 
you  will  give  to  your  future  site  will  be 
that  of  the  water  supply  and  its  purity,  for 
much  depends  upon  this. 

If  a  spring  be  at  hand  it  will  more  than 
repay  considerable  care  on  your  part. 
Bank  up  the  earth  about  it  for  a  consider- 
able distance  to  discourage  surface  water 
from  working  its  way  in,  then  dig  down  a 
short  distance  and  wall  the  spring  up  with 
either  stones  or  brick  laid  in  Portland  ce- 
ment, the  whole  smoothed  off  as  neatly  as 
possible  to  facilitate  the  cleansing  which 
must  be  done  from  time  to  time.  A  cover- 
ing of  some  sort  that  will  permit  active 
ventilation  should  now  be  erected  over  the 
spring  to  keep  out  falling  leaves  and 
refuse.  Care  should  be  taken  to  keep  all 
rubbish,  etc.,  as  far  from  the  spring  as  pos-  ^^ 

sible.    Slop  water  of  any  kind  should  never  ^^y^ 

be  thrown  near  the  spring.     To  keep  the 
earth  clean  in  the  vicinity  of  the  water  sup- 
75 


M 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 


ply  is  of  the  greatest  importance  and  re- 
quires constant  watchfulness. 

Should  it  chance  that  the  spring  is  upon 
an  elevation,  it  would  be  a  simple  matter 
to  pipe  it  into  the  house,  thus  securing  run- 
ning water.  The  pipes  may  be  laid  on  the 
surface  of  the  ground  and  disconnected  in 
the  winter  after  having  the  water  drained 
from  them.  It  is  not  advisable  to  have 
drinking  water  stand.  If  it  is  necessary, 
however,  to  store  it  for  a  time,  an  earthen- 
ware crock  or  vessel  is  the  proper  thing. 
This  should  be  well  washed  and  scalded  at 
frequent  intervals. 

Ponds  and  streams  are  not  desirable 
sources  of  supply  for  drinking  water  be- 
cause of  the  vast  surface  drainage  they 
receive. 

Should   you   be    fortunate    enough   to 

have  a  small  brook  running  near,  by  all 

means  endeavor  to  dam  it,  and  thus  secure 

a   miniature   pond    and   waterfall.      The 

76 


THE    CABIN 

banks  of  the  pond  may  be  made  glorious 
with  suitable  plants,  cardinal  flowers,  etc., 
and  such  an  opportunity  to  build  a  curving 
rustic  bridge  is  not  to  be  neglected.  Cover 
up  your  traces,  however. 

Now,  an  important  feature  of  your 
wood  home  is  proper  sewage,  and  this  de- 
mands attention.  The  outhouse  should  be 
built  to  accommodate,  under  the  seat,  a 
movable  box  lined  with  zinc  or,  better  still, 
a  galvanized  iron  pail,  not  too  large,  and 
made  to  fit  close  under  the  seat.  This 
should  be  supplied  with  a  layer  of  dry 
earth  or  wood  ashes  and  the  contents  re- 
moved at  frequent  intervals,  to  be  buried 
and  covered  with  earth.  Soil  near  the  sur- 
face (if  not  too  sandy)  is  in  a  large  degree 
able  to  destroy  organic  matter;  the  waste 
should  not,  therefore,  be  buried  deeply. 
One  foot  is  quite  sufficient. 

Garbage  is  best  disposed  of  by  burning. 
If  this  is  not  possible,  dig  a  hole  for  it  and 
77 


V^' 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 

cover  it  over  with  earth.  A  sprinkling  of 
chloride  of  lime  is  recommended  before 
covering.  This  will  lessen  materially  the 
number  of  house-flies. 

Look  carefully  after  the  overhanging 
branches  of  trees  near  the  camp  and  trim 
the  dead  ones  ofl"  to  forestall  any  accidents 
to  your  roof  or  window  glass. 

Whenever  a  branch  is  removed,  whether 
a  dead  or  a  live  one,  it  must  be  cut  ofl"  close 
to  and  even  with  the  trunk,  no  matter  how 
large  the  wound.  The  new  wood  and  bark 
will  then  in  time  cover  the  denuded  space. 
If  the  branch  is  not  cut  off  close  to  the 
tree  the  projecting  stub  soon  decays,  the 
bark  falls  oiF  and  the  rot  penetrates 
quickly  to  the  heart  of  the  tree. 

In  removing  a  large  branch,  enough  of 
the  outer  portion  should  be  first  sawed  off 
to  prevent  its  weight  from  splitting  the 
wood  downward.  All  wounds  should  be 
covered  with  white  lead,  coal  tar,  or  creo- 
78 


THE    CABIN 

sote.     No  pruning  should  be  done,  how- 
ever, until  the  fall,  if  possible. 

Occasionally  it  may  be  necessary  to  re- 
move a  rock,  and  while  this  looks  like  a 
great  task,  if  the  rock  is  large,  yet  after  all 
the  matter  is  comparatively  simple.  Slaty 
rocks  may  be  easily  separated  by  starting 
a  wedge  in  the  different  strata  and  with  a 
few  sharp  blows  an  entire  slab  will  loosen 
and  may  be  disposed  of. 

Granite,  etc.,  is  a  little  more  difficult, 
though  if  tools  are  lacking  a  hot  fire  may 
be  built  on  and  around  the  bowlder.  This 
should  be  kept  going  for  some  time.  Then 
cold  water  thi'o\Mi  on  the  rock  will  cause 
it  to  split  and  crack  as  though  a  charge  of 
powder  had  been  under  it.  A  good  blast- 
ing powder  is  perhaps  the  quickest  and 
most  efficient,  and  if  you  should  decide  to 
use  this,  get  the  brand  known  as  Hercules, 
made  by  the  du  Pont  Companj^,  who  will 
send  you  simple  du-ections  for  its  use. 
79 


WILDERNESS   HOMES 

This  brings  us  to  the  question  of  what 
is  best  to  be  done  with  the  landscape  fea- 
tures about  us.  With  some  this  means  a 
general  clearing  up.  All  the  rocks,  bushes, 
etc.,  must  go.  But  there  are  times  when 
the  big  bowlders,  which  are  never  easy  to 
remove,  may  be  made  most  attractive.  Vir- 
ginia creeper  or  honeysuckle  will  twine 
lovingly  about  it  if  you  give  them  a  start, 
and  doubtless  the  moss  and  lichens  have 
already  done  their  work  in  the  beautifying. 
At  its  base  the  woody  plants  and  ferns  may 
be  gathered.  Ferns  may  be  used  to  ad- 
vantage in  many  places,  and  they  will 
repay  the  care  you  take  in  setting  them  in 
the  situations  where  you  desire  their  mossy 
soft  green  effect.  They  are  best  trans- 
planted in  the  spring  or  early  summer. 
Some  of  the  stronger  growing  may  be 
moved  at  almost  any  time  during  the  grow- 
ing season.  Care  should  be  taken  to  secure 
a  good-sized  ball  of  earth  with  the  roots, 
80 


THE    CABIN 


and  then  in  planting  they  should  not  be 
buried  too  deeply,  and  have  the  sod  pressed 
firmly  about  the  roots. 

An  occasional  note  of  color  may  be  had 
in  the  sunnier  situations  with  either  the 
creeping  or  dwarf  nasturtiums. 

Whatever  is  done,  however,  with  plants, 
should  in  no  sense  suggest  the  city  or  coun- 
try gardens. 

Roadwaj^s  into  the  camp  are  oftentimes 
desirable,  but  the  building  of  a  road 
tlirough  the  forest  is  a  question  of  men  and 
teams.  Lumbemien  estimate  that  the  cost 
is  about  one  dollar  a  rod. 

You  will  be  surprised,  however,  how 
much  one  or  two  men  can  accomplish  in  a 
day  in  the  matter  of  building  paths  or 
trails.  Prospect  over  the  ground  care- 
fully and  decide  upon  the  smoothest  and 
most  practical  route,  then  with  your  ax 
blaze  the  trail.  Now  commence  in  the 
underbrush  and  small  stuff.  Some  will 
81 


\f 


WILDERNESS   HOMES 


1      1 


have  to  be  cut.  Cedar,  etc.,  may  be  up- 
rooted and  dragged  out  with  a  Httle  effort. 
Throw  the  rocks  and  pieces  of  stumps  into 
the  holes ;  knock  the  tops  off  the  hummocks 
into  the  low  places.  Whole  sheets  of  earth 
and  moss  may  be  stripped  from  the  rocks 
and  used  to  fill  in  and  cover  with.  Thus, 
with  comparatively  little  effort,  a  smooth 
trail  through  the  woods  is  made.  Should 
the  trail  take  you  over  any  sudden  depres- 
sion, build  a  rustic  bridge.  Two  or  three 
logs  laid  side  by  side  will  make  it,  and 
handrails  may  as  easily  be  put  in  place.  A 
little  rustic  bridge  or  flight  of  stone  steps 
at  some  unlooked-for  point  gives  a  note 
of  pleasant  surprise  that  is  well  worth 
while. 

Take  extraordinary  care  that  no  fires 
get  started.  In  the  forest  it  is  a  common 
thing  for  a  fire  to  work  its  way  under- 
ground without  a  sign,  until  suddenly  it 
will  burst  into  a  waving  flame,  terrible  and 
83 


4. 


r^v^'* 


THE    CABIN 

inexorable.  Even  when  you  have  appar- 
ently stamped  out  the  last  spark  and 
flooded  the  ground  with  water  the  fire  may 
reappear  in  the  next  twenty-four  hours, 
burning  as  determinedly  as  before. 

If  you  have  brush  to  burn,  pile  it  upon 
the  shore  as  far  from  the  trees  as  possible, 
then  wait  for  a  favorable  daj^  This  will 
be  immediately  after  a  rain,  either  in  a  calm 
or  with  a  slight  breeze  blowing  toward  the 
lake. 

While  there  are  innumerable  advantages 
in  living  in  the  woods  and  also  many  de- 
lights, the  mosquito  is  not  to  be  classed 
among  them.  I  am  told  there  are  two 
kinds,  one  with  and  one  without  "  a  sing." 
The  latter  is  said  to  do  the  dastardly  and 
deadly  work,  but  all  mosquitoes  look  alike 
to  me.  Where  you  are  unaided  in  an  effort 
to  exterminate  these  pests  you  have  almost 
as  much  hope  of  success  as  a  fly  on  sticky 

paper.    Yet  if  you  will  cruise  around  the 

83  V 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 

camp  for  a  few  rods  you  will  find  many 
breeding  places  that  might  as  well  not 
exist.  One  day's  work  with  these  places 
convinced  me  that  I  could  earn  a  consider- 
able amount  of  peace  for  the  season  by 
carefully  filling  up  every  hole  where  water 
collected,  even  for  a  short  period;  in  hol- 
low stumps,  depressions  in  the  rocks,  etc. 
When  it  was  impossible  to  fill  these  up,  a 
small  quantity  of  crude  oil  was  allowed  to 
spread  across  the  surface.  A  gallon  will 
spread  over  acres  in  swamp  land,  and  if 
the  dose  is  repeated  every  three  weeks  it 
proves  most  discouraging  to  the  mosquito. 
A  neglected  tin  can  with  an  inch  of  water 
in  it  will  become  the  hatchery  of  some  mil- 
lions. Water  is  absolutely  necessary  to  the 
hatching  of  mosquito  eggs. 

If  you  wish  to  induce  the  ducks  to  make 
longer  stays  with  you,  and  to  invite  their 
friends  also,  plant  wild  rice  in  the  shallow 
water  along  the  shores  of  the  coves  or 
84 


'O 


THE    CABIX 


nearby  stretches  of  still  water.  Perhaps 
you  have  tried  planting  this  in  the  past,  at 
no  little  expense  and  trouble,  and  have  not 
yet  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  the  first 
spear  appear.  The  secret  is  this :  the  seeds 
should  never  be  allowed  to  dry.  There  are 
places  where  this  seed  can  be  purchased 
which  has  been  kept  in  water  from  the 
moment  of  gathering,  and  which  will  be 
sent  you  packed  in  damp  moss.  This  seed 
will  almost  invariably  grow.  To  any  one 
practically  interested,  who  will  \^Tite  me,  I 
shall  be  glad  to  give  the  address. 

Upon  request,  the  United  States  De- 
partment of  Agriculture,  through  its  For- 
estrj"  Bureau,  will  send  you  pamphlets, 
etc.,  that  will  be  of  the  utmost  importance 
if  you  own  more  than  an  acre  or  two  of 
wooded  land.  Wood  lots  to  which  the 
principles  of  forestry  have  never  been  ap- 
plied verj^  commonly  offer  a  good  chance 
for  "  improvement  cuttings."     The  pur- 

85  ; 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 


pose  of  such  cutting  is  to  secure  needed 
material,  utilize  timber  which  would  other- 
wise go  to  waste,  and  make  room  for  other 
trees  to  grow.  In  making  improvement 
cuttings,  look  especially  for  two  classes  of 
trees  in  addition  to  those  already  indicated 
as  desirable  for  removal.  These  are  (1) 
over-mature  trees  which  are  beginning  to 
decay  and  will  rapidly  lose  their  value,  and 
(2)  "suppressed"  trees — that  is,  those 
whose  crowns  have  been  overtopped  by 
their  neighbors  so  that  they  can  no  longer 
compete  for  room.  A  few  years  of  care- 
ful cutting  in  your  lot  will  greatly  increase 
the  beauty  of  your  stand  of  trees.  Mean- 
time you  will  be  abundantly  supplied  with 
firewood. 

An  ice  house  is  almost  necessary  where 
the  camp  is  occupied  during  the  warmer 
months,  and  where  you  are  compelled  to 
rely  on  a  private  supply  of  ice  you  will  do 
well  to  erect  a  place  for  its  storage. 
86 


THE    CABIN 

Ice  may  be  readily  kept  in  a  structure  of 
logs  that  has  been  thoroughly  chinked  or 
calked,  digging  down  into  the  earth  if 
you  desire,  though  a  building  on  the  sur- 
face does  quite  as  well,  particularly  in  a 
woody  position,  where  the  trees  give  almost 
continual  shade.  The  door  should  be  made 
hollow  and  the  space  between  filled  with 
sawdust.  Ten  by  twelve  feet  square  and 
seven  feet  to  the  eaves  would  be  about  the 
right  size.  A  floor  should  be  made  of  poles 
set  not  too  tightly  together,  to  allow  a  free 
outlet  for  the  melting  ice.  At  the  peak  a 
small  hole  should  be  left  for  ventilation, 
and  this  should  be  covered  with  a  screen  to 
prevent  insects,  birds  and  vermin  from 
getting  inside. 

A  neighbor  will  fill  this  house  with  ice 
in  a  day,  so  that  aside  from  the  sawdust 
and  the  hauling  of  the  same  the  cost  is 
trifling  and  the  advantage  great. 

In  storing  the  ice  the  cakes  should  be 
87 


,,y»- 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 

kept  six  or  eight  inches  from  the  walls  all 
around  and  the  space  between  well  packed 
with  sawdust.  Then,  besides,  the  cakes 
should  all  be  thoroughly  packed  on  every 
side  with  sawdust  to  prevent  their  freezing 
together  and  also  to  assist  in  preserving 
them. 

A  boathouse  is  part  of  the  equipment  of 
the  camp,  and  may  be  made  an  attractive 
feature,  for  with  it  may  be  combined  dress- 
ing rooms  for  the  bathers,  to  say  nothing 
of  an  outlook  from  a  balcony.  The  height 
of  the  water  even  on  lakes  is  constantly 
changing,  and  this  demands  a  float  to  make 
the  landing  of  canoes  or  the  embarking 
into  launches  easy.  The  raft  idea  may  be 
employed,  though  it  should  be  remembered 
that  the  float  must  be  drawn  out  of  the 
water  during  the  winter,  and  logs  are  much 
too  heavy  to  handle.  Casks  are  the  thing, 
and  with  a  little  ingenuity  they  may  be 
framed  in  such  a  manner  that  the  whole 


THE    CABIN 

float  may  be  readily  taken  apart  and  drawn 
ashore. 

Put  a  roller  on  the  end  of  the  float,  so 
that  canoes  or  rowboats  may  be  drawn 
up  on  it  with  as  little  damage  as  possible, 
and  it  would  not  be  amiss  to  pad  a  portion 
of  the  edge  of  the  float  with  cushions  of 
burlap  or  canvas  stuffed  with  soft  mate- 
rial, to  act  as  fenders  and  save  the  paint 
and  varnish.  A  gangway  will  lead  from 
the  float  to  the  boathouse,  and  a  small 
padded  truck  will  facilitate  the  matter  of 
getting  the  floating  stock  under  cover 
away  from  the  weather. 


89 


INSIDE    THE    CABIN 


CHAPTER   VII 

INSIDE   THE   CABIN 

YOUR  firtt  care  with  the  interior  is 
to  take  off  the  look  of  newness. 
There  is  a  charm  peculiarly  its  own 
about  the  walls  of  a  log  cabin,  for  even 
now,  untouched  as  it  is,  you  sense  the  spirit 
of  the  mountain  and  the  lake  which  has 
been  built  into  it  with  every  log  rolled  into 
place. 

The  floor  needs  toning  down  with  a 
stain  (for  paint  is  not  permitted  inside  the 
cabin),  and  when  you  have  decided  upon 
what  tone  you  want,  do  not  be  persuaded 
to  buy  some  expensive  concoction  widely 
advertised  as  the  best  ever  at  three  dollars 
a  gallon.  Make  it  yourself  for  fifty  cents 
93 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 

or  less  and  have  exactly  what  you  want. 
A  small  quantity  of  oil  paint  thorouglily 
mixed  in  a  gallon  of  kerosene  or  turpentine 
will  fill  the  bill  exactly.  The  intensity  of 
the  stain  is  governed  by  the  amount  of 
color  used,  and  the  color  itself  is  modified, 
if  too  glaring,  by  the  addition  of  some 
other  color.  Thus,  raw  umber  will  give  a 
fine  brown  tone,  but  if  it  is  too  red  on  trial, 
add  some  black  or  blue  or  green.  This  you 
will  agree  gives  a  wide  latitude,  but  in 
securing  a  brown  or  green  tone  for  a  room 
it  must  be  a  "  tone,"  and  not  a  decided 
color.  I  mention  these  two  colors  because 
of  theii'  reminiscent  feeling  of  the  woods 
they  seem  especially  appropriate.  Besides, 
these  soft  tans  and  greens  are  always  rest- 
ful and  pleasant  to  live  with.  Remember 
that  in  a  large  use  of  a  color  it  gains  in 
intensity. 

After  the  floor  is  stained   (make  your 
stain  very  thin)   give  it  a  coat  of  wood- 
9-i 


A  iJoathouse  is  Always  a  .Necessary  Adjunct  to  the  Cabin.     The  Balcony 
Idea  is  Naturally  xVssociated. 


An  luteresting  Stairway.     The  Treads  are  of  Solid  Nor\yay  Logs. 


INSIDE    THE    CABIN 


filler,  and  when  this  is  dry  finish  either  with 
varnish  or  wax. 

The  logs  will  of  their  own  accord  gradu- 
ally assume  a  fine  gray-brown  tone,  so  that 
there  is  practically  only  the  window  and 
door  trim  requiring  their  share  of  the  stain. 


PRONT 


<S(Pe:. 


Simple  furniture  to  fit  the  situation  is 
desired,  and  chairs  and  tables  may  be  read- 
ily fashioned  from  the  branches  of  trees. 
Care  should  be  taken  to  select  for  this  pur- 
pose such  trees  as  have  smooth  bark  that 
will  cling.  A  spoke  sizer  will  bring  the 
95 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 


ends  of  the  sticks  down  to  fit  the  holes 
which  have  been  bored  to  receive  them.  All 
the  furniture  should  be  put  together  with 
g"lue  and  in  addition  a  wire  nail  driven 
through  will  keep  the  whole  secure. 

Seats  and  backs  for  the  chairs  may  be 


made  of  skins  stretched  across,  or  small 
sticks  may  be  nailed  in  place. 

Window  seats  may  be  fashioned  in  much 

the  same  manner,  only  now  one  may  make 

use  of  these  for  storage  room,  and  the  seat 

^^  should  be  hinged  on,  giving  access  to  the 

box  beneath. 

96 
J     ■ 


IXSIDE    THE    CABIN 

An  excellent  bed  may  be  easily  built,  but 
be  sure  that  3^ou  have  taken  the  precaution 
to  measure  your  spring  frame.  Springs 
may  be  done  away  with  by  using  the  old- 
fashioned  method  of  "  roping  "  the  bed. 


In  the  frame  all  around  the  bed  bore  half- 
inch  holes  six  inches  apart.  Take  rope  of 
sufficient  length  and  knot  one  end.  Pro- 
ceed to  lace  tlirough  the  holes  on  opposite 
sides  of  the  frame,  pulling  as  tightly  as 
possible,  then  make  a  temporary  hitch.  Go 
back  to  the  first  stretch  of  the  rope  and 
97 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 

stand  upon  it,  now  to  the  next  one  in  front, 
etc.  You  will  soon  take  up  the  slack  and 
the  cords  will  be  drawn  tight.  Fasten  with 
a  secure  hitch.  Now,  from  the  foot  to  the 
head,  stretch  another  rope  as  before,  cross- 
ing the  former  work.  This  makes  a  good 
bed.     Springs  are  better. 

While  the  fit  is  on  you  there  will  be 
found  many  things  to  be  made.  A  clock 
case,  woodbox,  pipe  racks,  gun  and  rod 
holders,  clothes  trees,  etc.,  but  in  all  these 
matters  let  utility  rule.  Do  not  try  to 
overdo  the  "  rustic  "  appearance  of  things. 
Keep  them  simple  and  take  pride  in  build- 
ing them  of  the  fewest  pieces  possible. 

Excellent  draperies  may  be  made  of  the 
dyed  or  plain  burlaps  and  these  may  be 
made  quite  handsome  with  a  simple  design 
stencilled  upon  them.  The  only  trouble 
to  be  met  with  in  stenciling  is  in  securing 
the  design. 

When  this  is  had,  secure  a  piece  of  rather 
98 


A  Unique  Closet  for  the  Camp.      Note  the  Beveling  of  the  Logs  Around 

the  Door. 


IXSIDE    THE    CABIN 

stiff  heavy  paper  and  cut  out  the  design 
with  a  sharp  penknife.  Resting  the  paper 
on  a  small  piece  of  glass  will  give  a  sharp 
edge  to  the  cut.  When  the  stencil  is  cut 
fasten  it  to  the  di-apery  in  the  position  it  is 
to  occupy.  Have  your  oil  colors  ready 
and  also  a  quantity  of  gasoline  or  turpen- 
tine, for  the  color  is  put  in  more  as  a  dye 
than  as  a  surface  color.  A  little  experi- 
menting on  waste  pieces  will  give  you  the 
proper  consistency.  Use  a  smallish  brush 
with  stiff  hairs.  An  artist's  bristle  brush 
about  three-fourths  of  an  inch  wide  is  just 
the  thing. 

For  curtains  and  thin  stuff,  as  Swiss, 
scrim,  etc.,  use  a  thin  mixture  of  Diamond 
Dyes.  Unbleached  muslin  is  excellent  for 
stenciling. 

Take  a  small  amount  of  the  powder  on 
the  end  of  a  teaspoon,  wet  it  with  cold 
water,  then  add  one  cup  of  boiling  water 
and  boil  for  a  few  minutes. 
99 


/• 


I'l 


<r 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 


For  crash,  etc.,  use  the  aniline  dyes  (or 
tapestry  dyes),  but  as  they  are  rather 
dead  use  some  of  the  Diamond  Dyes  in 
addition.  Prepare  them  as  above,  adding 
color  to  get  the  desired  shade. 

Permit  me  just  a  word  here  with  regard 
to  the  "  pictures  "  for  the  wall.  There  are 
people  who  attempt  to  adorn  their  cabin 
with  all  manner  of  cheap  lithographs,  cal- 
endars, and  other  advertisements.  In  this 
day  many  of  our  finest  out-door  pictures 
are  used  by  various  firms  for  the  exploita- 
tion of  their  wares,  but  in  pity's  name  do 
not  start  a  "  collection "  and  use  your 
rooms  for  the  exhibition. 

There  are  many  portfolios  of  exquisite 
out-door  pictures  that  may  be  purchased 
reasonably. 

With  but  little  work  frames  may  be 

made  for  them  of  pine,  which  may  be 

stained  to  accord  perfectly  with  the  view. 

A  few  of  these  may  be  hung,  but  don't 

100 


INSIDE    THE    CABIN 

overdo  the  matter ;  treat  it  as  if  it  were  your 
city  home  in  this  regard.  The  logs  of  the 
walls  are  too  fine  in  themselves  and  hold  so 
much  of  what  we  seek  in  the  open  that  we 
should  try  not  to  hide  their  charm.  There 
is  absolutely  no  room  for  the  miscellaneous 
collection  of  posters,  pine  cones,  college 
pennants,  photographs,  post  cards,  cotil- 
lion favors,  etc. 

Paddles  and  snowshoes  lend  themselves 
easily  to  the  decoration  of  the  rooms,  and 
the  introduction  of  a  game  head  or  two,  or 
the  mounted  big  fish  that  didn't  get  away, 
together  with  fur  rugs  for  the  floor,  give 
the  last  note  of  the  woodsy  flavor. 

Everything  else  must  be  rigorously  ex- 
cluded; thus  the  "atmosphere"  will  be 
preserved  genuinely,  and  the  suggestion 
of  a  museum  never  appear. 

After  the  logs  have  had  a  seasoning 
period  (and  not  before)  the  calked  spaces 

may  be  plastered  with  white  Hme.    If  this 

101 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 


seems  too  glaring  when  dry,  it  will  take  a 
stain  as  readily  as  wood. 

Not  the  least  in  importance  of  all  the 
rooms  is  the  kitchen,  and  considerable  time 
and  thought  should  be  given  it  to  secure 
the  best  possible  results.  In  your  plans 
you  have  arranged  large  windows  that  will 
give  all  the  light  and  air  possible.  The 
problem  of  cleanliness  is,  however,  some- 
what difficult  of  solution  in  the  Log  Cabin 
— there  are  so  many  cracks  and  crevices  to 
attract  dust  and  vermin.  In  this  room  it 
would  be  best  to  plaster  the  cracks  with 
lime  mortar,  then  all  the  woodwork  except 
the  logs,  including  the  shelves,  should  be 
given  a  good  application  of  enameled 
white  paint  which  may  be  easily  wiped  off 
with  a  damp  cloth  and  thus  be  kept  clean. 

Have  the  kitchen  sink  broad  and  of  gen- 
erous size,  with  a  shelf  built  at  one  end 
slanting  toward  the  sink,  so  that  the  water 
from  the  dishes  may  drain  that  way.  A 
103 


^^..n^ 


'/'I'. 


''^^m^Si 


/^ 


^""f/S^'S^ 


>m 


Suggestions  for  Stencils  to  be  Used  as  Border  Decorations. 


INSIDE    THE    CABIN 

plain  cast  iron  sink  will  do  very  well  and 
may  be  put  in  place  by  building  a  frame 
of  the  seven-eighths  stuff  at  hand,  remem- 
bering that  the  outlet  end  should  be  slightly 
lower,  to  prevent  the  water  standing  in  the 
sink.  The  sink  should  be  treated  from 
time  to  time  with  a  wash  of  hot  water  and 
soda  or  ammonia  to  keep  it  clean  from  de- 
posits of  grease. 


103 


WHAT    IT    WILL    COST 


CHAPTER   VIII 


WHAT   IT    WILL    COST 


THE  item  of  expense  in  the  construc- 
tion of  a  log  cabin  is  usually  difficult 
to  figure,  because  ordinarily  the 
price  of  logs  is  hard  to  determine  without 
considerable  correspondence. 

I  am  therefore  giving  the  probable  cost 
of  the  cabin  "  Crow's  Nest,"  and  from  this 
the  approximate  cost  of  similar  structures 
may  be  determined. 

The  cost  of  the  one-room  or  hunting 
cabin  holds  no  relation  to  this,  for  the  rea- 
son that  nearly  all  the  materials  may  be 
found  on  the  spot,  and  as  this  class  of 
cabin  is  usually  put  up  in  the  more  remote 
regions,  the  expense  for  "  stumpage  "  may 

be  very  small  or  nothing.    In  this  case  you 

107 


WILDERNESS   HOMES 

will  figure  only  on  whatever  material  you' 
may  decide  to  pack  in  and  the  cost  of  its 
transportation. 

A  log  cabin  of  the  larger  type  is  more 
expensive  to  build  than  the  regulation 
frame  "  cottage."  It  has  tremendous  ad- 
vantages over  the  frame  structure,  how- 
ever, and  at  the  same  time  retains  every 
point  of  excellence.  The  frame  struc- 
ture, nevertheless,  can  be  erected  much 
more  quickly. 

92  logs  for  sidewalk  and  partitions.  ..  at   $.50  $46.00 

20  logs  for  floor  timbers "       .50  10.00 

7  logs  for  floor  timbers,  second  story .  "      .50  3.50 

40  small  poles  for  rafters "      .10  4 .00 

20 small  poles  for  porch  rafters "      .10  2.00 

900  feet  i  in.  spruce  boards,  flooring. .  .  "  15 .  00  M       13 .  50 

l.SOOfeet  Jin.  spruce  boards,  roofing,  etc."  15.00  M       19.50 
800  feet  hard  pine  flooring,  planed  both 

sides "50.00  M      40.00 

100  feet  2x4  hemlock  studding "  13 .  00  M         1 .  30 

3  yellow  pine  doors "      .90  2.70 

1  glazed  yellow  pine  front  door 4 .  50 

12windows *.  .  "    100  12.00 

2screen  doors "    1  00              2.00 

10,000 shingles "    2.10  M       21.00 

lObbls.lime "    1.20             12.00 

75  fire  bricks "  30.00  M         2.25 

100  lbs.  fire  clay "      .01^             1.50 

2  iron  rods  for  fireplace  arch 1 .  00 

Hardware S.50 

Zinc  for  chimney -50 

108 


WHAT    IT    WILL    COST 

Nails $2  50 

10  gals,  creosote  shingle  stain 5 .00 

Pamt  for  window  casings,  etc.,  three  coats.  2 .  50 

Stain  for  floors,  etc 1 .  00 

Screening  for  windows 1 .  50 

Total $215 .25 

The  cost  of  transportation  will  be 
largely  governed  according  to  the  accessi- 
bility of  the  camp.  There  also  comes  into 
the  calculation  the  chance  laborer  whose 
assistance  may  from  time  to  time  be  re- 
quired, and  his  daily  wages  in  most  sec- 
tions are  one  dollar  and  a  half. 


109 


SOME    HUNTING    CABINS 


CHAPTER   IX 

SOME   HUNTING   CABINS 

WHEN  you  have  found  the  place 
where  the  shooting  and  fishing 
conditions  are  to  your  hking,  a 
permanent  camp  is  the  thing,  and  cii'cum- 
stances  often  render  advisable  the  building 
of  a  shelter  more  substantial  and  comfort- 
able than  the  fragile  tents  usually  carried 
upon  outing  trips.  ISIoreover,  an  ax,  a 
saw  and  a  few  pounds  of  nails  are  more 
convenient  for  transportation  than  the  tent 
itself,  and  abundant  material  for  a  log 
cabin  can  be  found  convenient  to  any  de- 
sirable camp  spot  in  the  woods.  A  log 
structure,    no    matter    how   modest,    will 

always  be  more  comfortable  than  a  tent, 
113 


SOME    HUNTING   CABINS 

and  in  cold  weather  there  is  no  comparison 
whatever. 

There  are,  however,  campers  and  camp- 
ers, and  for  a  certain  class  the  tent  will  be 
found  advisable,  for  the  reason  that  they 
will  not  be  compelled  twice  to  camp  in  the 
same  spot. 

Some  go  into  the  woods  with  a  sublime 
indifference  to  dirt  and  litter  of  any  kind. 
The  floor  of  the  cabin  is  never  swept,  parti- 
cles of  food  lie  all  about,  cobwebs  every- 
where, stove  greasy,  cooking  utensils — 
faugh!  There  isn't  a  towel  about  the  place. 
The  soap  is  covered  with  bark  dust  and 
straws,  and  there  is  no  arrangement  for 
light  at  night.  There  are  one  or  two  con- 
trivances like  sawbucks  to  sit  on,  and  the 
bed  is  made  of  boughs  an  inch  thick,  the 
stubby  ends  of  which  punch  into  you  with- 
out mercy.  There  are  no  pillows  provided ; 
you  must  fold  up  your  coat  or  stuff  your 
bootleg  and  sleep  as  best  you  may. 
114 


AltiT  a  >(UinL>t_-r  lit   \ cars'  Use  the  Stove  Ku.>ted  and  liurued  Out,  and  it 
was  then  Addtxl  to  tlie  Oiit*ide  Fire]ihice. 


There   are   Many   Day>.   Even    in    the   Autumn,  when   an  Outside   Fire 

Desirable. 


SOME   HUNTING   CABINS 

Outside  the  camp  the  same  conditions 
prevail.  Fish  heads  and  bones,  deer's  feet 
and  pieces  of  hide,  tin  cans  and  a  slimy, 
odoriferous  place  by  the  door  where  all  the 
dishwater  is  thrown.  With  all  my  love  for 
the  out-door  life  and  the  wildwood,  I  pre- 
fer my  city  studio. 

These  conditions  are  not  all  brought 
about  by  the  owners  of  wood  camps,  for 
in  the  nature  of  things  others  will  find  them 
out  and,  according  to  the  unwritten  rule, 
occupy  them.  Unfortunately  not  all  who 
accept  the  hospitality  of  your  camp  may 
be  gentlemen,  and  it  is  to  the  rowdy  class 
that  we  are  largely  indebted  for  the  condi- 
tions above  mentioned. 

The  failing  seems  to  be  universal.  While 
hunting  in  the  Rocky  Mountains  I  came 
across  a  cabin,  erected  possibly  two  years 
previously,  which  was  practically  wrecked 
because  some  one  was  too  lazy  to  cut  the 
firewood  which  could  have  been  gathered 
115 


WILDERNESS   HOMES 


within  two  rods  of  the  camp.  They 
chopped  up  the  floor  and  bunks  and  table 
instead. 

Once  during  a  severe  storai  up  in  the 
Hudson  Bay  country  we  were  forced  to 
give  up  our  hunt  for  caribou  and  my  guide 
started  for  a  trapper's  cabin  which  he  knew 
to  be  nearby.  The  storm  continued  for 
two  days,  and  you  may  imagine  that  our 
regards  for  the  individuals  who  had  occu- 
pied the  camp  before  us  were  outspoken 
when  we  found  that  every  cooking  utensil 
had  been  stuck  up  in  a  conspicuous  place 
and  used  as  a  target.  They  were  so  rid- 
dled with  bullet  holes  as  to  make  them 
useless. 

But  for  pure  cussed  vandalism  let  me 
point  you  to  the  individuals  from  Ohio 
who,  under  the  guise  of  being  sportsmen, 
struck  the  Maine  woods  north  of  Sebec 
Lake  and  proceeded  to  take  them  apart. 
I  will  pass  over  their  methods  of  hunting, 
116 


m- 


SOME    HUNTING   CABINS 


which,  needless  to  say,  was  a  highly  suc- 
cessful slaughter,  or  their  methods  of 
fishing,  which  were  equally  effective.  A 
friend  and  I  had  built  a  cosy  cabin  on  a 
hillside,  overlooking  a  gem  of  lakes  in 
which  the  trout  could  always  be  found. 
One  month  afterw^ard  we  went  back  to 
spend  a  few  days,  but  the  Ohioans  had 
been  there  in  the  interval.  They  needed  a 
raft,  so  they  tore  down  the  logs  from  the 
camp,  and  with  some  of  the  floor  boards 
and  the  door  managed  to  fashion  a  fine 
floating  platform  from  which  to  fish! 
What  would  you  say? 

Now,  an  open  camp  has  many  objec- 
tionable features.  It  is  cold,  and  to  keep 
it  warm  requires  an  extraordinary  amount 
of  firewood.  During  a  storm  the  wind 
may  haul  down  an  unexpected  draw  and 
pile  the  snow  in  upon  you.  In  warmer 
weather  they  are  fairly  comfortable,  but 
the  mosquitoes  just  dote  upon  that  kind  of 
117 


-^j 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 

camp.  True,  a  good  smoke  may  keep  them 
away,  if  you  have  luck  and  the  wind  is 
right.  But  my  experience  is  that  a  mos- 
quito enjoying  moderate  health  can  stand 
just  as  much  smoke  as  I  can.  Then,  of 
course,  there  comes  the  time  in  the  midst 
of  the  best  sleep  ever  enjoyed  when  the 
smoke  apparatus  goes  out  of  business,  and 
there  is  no  longer  any  joy  in  life. 

"  Squirrel  Inn  "  is  a  little  camp  that  has 
given  shelter  to  many  sportsmen.  Its 
floor  dimensions  are  eight  by  ten  feet.  The 
peak  is  nine  feet  from  the  floor  and  the 
rear  wall  five  feet.  This  cabin  was  built 
with  no  other  tools  than  an  ax  and  a  saw. 
The  great  objection  which  I  found  with  it 
was  the  lack  of  light,  due  to  the  use  of 
windows  that  w^re  too  small.  The  roof 
w^as  of  birch  bark,  but  this  quickly  became 
dilapidated  and  leaky.  The  floor  was  made 
h  of  poles  flattened  on  the  upper  surface  and 
with  the  inequalities  of  the  sides  smoothed 
118 


SOME   HUNTING   CABINS 

down.  Two  bunks,  one  above  the  other, 
occupied  one  end  of  the  camp.  To  make 
these,  stout  poles  were  set  across  the  cabin 


from  wall  to  wall  and  on  them  burlap 
was  stretched.  Balsam  twigs  were  then 
sliingled  on  top  of  this.    The  box  seat  in 

119 


J 


WILDERNESS   HOMES 


the  corner  was  lined  with  tin,  and  here 
matches,  flour,  candles,  etc.,  were  kept.  A 
small  stove  occupied  the  remaining  corner 
and  the  cooking  utensils  were  hung  on  the 
walls  behind  it.  The  roof  extending  over 
the  front  made  an  excellent  shade  from 
sun  or  rain  when  it  was  desired  to  eat  out 
of  doors.  A  folding  table  occupied  the 
rear  wall  between  the  box  seat  and  bunks. 
"  Mouse  Tower  "  is  a  type  of  the  general 
run  of  hunting  cabins,  and  the  directions 
for  its  building  will  apply  to  any  of  the 
others.  The  completed  cabin  is  eleven  by 
seventeen  feet  on  the  floor.  Nine  feet  at 
the  peak  and  flve  feet  at  the  eaves  gives 
you  the  height  and  slope  of  the  roof,  which 
extends  some  four  feet  over  the  front  of 
the  camp.  The  first  course  of  logs  is  laid 
directly  on  the  ground  and  then  leveled  by 
knocking  away  the  high  places  with  the 
poll  of  the  ax  and  building  up  the  low 

ones  with  rocks  well  bedded.     You  have 
120 


Mouse  Tower.  Tlie  Usual  Type  of  Hunter's  Cabin  Does  Not  Always 
Make  Prox-ision  for  the  Storage  of  Dry  Firewood,  which  was  the  Chief 
Design  of  this  Four  Foot  Projection. 


SOME   HUNTING   CABINS 

brought  the  window  sash  all  set  up,  so 
there  now  remains  only  the  door  to  build. 
This  should  have  been  figured  on  before- 
hand, so  that  it  might  be  brought  into  the 
woods  all  cut  to  size,  ready  to  nail  together. 
The  handle  and  catch  may  be  made  as 
shown  in  the  drawing.  Don't  build  a  fire- 
place ;  have  a  stove  and  be  comfortable.  It 
doesn't  look  as  well,  but  for  the  practical 
purposes  of  heating  and  cooking  it  is  the 
thing.  Set  this  as  shown  in  the  plan,  leav- 
ing sufficient  space  for  firewood  between 
it  and  the  cabin  walls. 

Don't  build  your  bunks  one  above  the 
other  unless  circumstances  require  it.  Let 
the  mosquitoes  have  a  chance  to  get  away 
from  you  if  they  w^ant  to ;  besides,  fresh  air 
is  very  desirable.  The  bunks  shown  wiU 
accommodate  four  ordinary  men  comfort- 
ably, and  should  be  built  about  eighteen 
inches  above  the  floor,  with  a  guard  board 
around  the  top  about  four  inches  high. 
121 


WILDERNESS   HOMES 

If  you  are  in  a  region  where  balsam 
boughs  may  be  obtained,  cut  a  sufficient 
quantity  of  the  little  ends,  which  are  about 
five  inches  long,  and  proceed  to  make  your 
bed  by  shingling  them  in  place  at  a  slight 
angle,  with  the  sharp  or  stick  end  down. 
This  is  a  long  operation,  but  once  done  it 
will  last  a  long  time  and  be  fairly  com- 
fortable. The  aroma  of  the  pine,  however, 
will  be  its  chief  est  charm,  for  no  matter 
where  one  goes  camping  he  carries  with 
him  the  lingering  memory  of  spring  beds 
and  mattresses,  and  their  comfort  is  real 
and  tangible. 

The  shelf  near  the  door  is  convenient 
when  cooking  and  during  the  inevitable 
dish-washing  operation.  The  utility  of  the 
folding  seats  will  be  recognized  by  every 
one,  particularly  the  practical  joker. 

Gun  rack,  coat  hooks,  etc.,  may  be  made 

of  crotched  sticks  cut  and  fastened  to  the 

wall  as  shown. 

122 


SOME   HUNTING   CABINS 


In  the  warm  weather  the  heat  of  the 
stove  is  intolerable,  so  that  a  fireplace 
should  be  constructed  in  front  of  the  cabin 


on  which  to  do  the  cooking.  Make  it  of 
stones,  built  up  as  shown  in  the  illustration, 
and  place  over  it  a  pole  quite  high,  from 
which  wires  can  be  hung  on  which  to  sus- 
pend the  kettles. 


*vv 


Outside  the  cabin  set  two  posts  in  the 
ground   about   eight   feet   apart,    leaving 
about  eighteen  inches  project.    Cut  a  sap- 
123 


4];" 


'--^ 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 


ling  of  sufficient  length  and  fasten  securely 
to  the  two  logs,  and  you  have  a  fine  foot- 
rest  in  the  summer  evenings  after  the  day's 
fishing,  when  the  campfire  is  lighted  and 
the  stories  and  pipes  are  going. 

You  will  find  that  several  yards  of  mos- 
quito netting  will  not  be  amiss  when  prop- 
erly distributed  over  the  door  and  windows, 
and  if  you  will  take  a  couple  of  hours  for 
cleaning  house  on  entering  camp  for  the 
season  you  will  be  more  than  repaid  by  the 
absence  of  insects  and  spiders. 

When  the  fall  months  come,  with  a  man- 
tle of  snow  flung  wide  over  the  landscape 
and  the  hunting  season  for  big  game  is  on, 
you  will  find  it  very  convenient,  after  a  day 
in  the  forest,  to  have  a  goodly  supply  of 
firewood  on  hand.  So,  if  you  are  wise,  you 
will  have  some  cut  and  stored  under  the 
protecting  eaves  of  the  front  of  the  cabin 
before  leaving  in  the  summer. 

Hang  a  board  in  a  conspicuous  place,  or 
124 


SOME    HUNTING   CABINS 

bring  a  sign  with  you  to  tack  on  the  door 
which  wiU  read : 

WELCOME 

TO    ANY   BROTHER    SPORTSMAN 

PLEASE  LEAVE  THE   CAMP  IN  AS 
GOOD  CONDITION  AS  YOU  FIND  IT 

AND 

PUT  OUT  THE  FIRE 

Thus  the  ethics  of  the  woods  may  be 
taught  to  the  ignorant,  and  the  thoughtless 
be  reminded. 

In  arranging  the  interior  of  these  cabins 
one  thing  above  all  else  should  be  looked 
after,  the  comfort  of  the  occupants.  With 
Nessmuk,  "I  go  into  the  woods,  not  to 
rough  it,  but  to  smooth  it."  That,  my 
friend,  is  what  you,  too,  must  do  if  any 
benefit  to  health  or  peace  to  soul  is  to  be 
derived  from  your  recreation. 

Now,  in  the  hunter's  cabin  there  is  every 
125 


"«-:V' 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 

opportunity  for  being  comfortable.  This 
means  that  some  furniture  should  be  made ; 
but  not  so  much  that  there  will  be  no  room 


for  the  would-be  occupants.  Draperies 
seem  out  of  place  in  a  camp  of  this  kind, 
but  a  substitute  can  be  found  in  the  various 
animal  skins  procurable. 


^.JpijWMI 


There  are  a  number  of  fine  sporting  pic- 
tures to  be  had  which  can  be  framed  with 
ordinary  white  pine  strips   four  or  five 
126 


"A 


V 


SOME   HUNTING   CABINS 


inches  wide,  on  which  birch  bark  has  been 
glued.  These,  properly  hung  on  the  wall, 
will  do  much  toward  enlivening  and  beauti- 
fying the  interior. 

As  cushions  for  the  window  seats,  make 
sacks  of  some  stout  material — burlap  is 


good — and  fill  them  with  dry  moss  or  bal- 
sam twigs  and  then  cover  the  whole  with 
skins. 

Tables  and  chairs  are  easily  constructed, 
as  shown  in  the  drawings. 

Dispose  of  your  guns,  rods  and  paddles 
in  such  places  as  will  have  the  best  decora- 
tive effect,  and  after  putting  up  a  book- 
shelf (old  magazines  are  absolutely  Hew 
127 


WILDERNESS   HOMES 

on  rainy  days)  add  whatever  seems  neces- 
sary in  the  way  of  pipe  racks,  tobacco 
boxes,  etc.  Make  a  towel  rack  and  provide 
a  place  for  the  soap.  Then  fill  some  large 
sacks  of  heavy  muslin  or  denim  with  very 
dry  moss  and  soft  evergreen  twigs  for 
pillows.  Devote  some  space  to  a  good  map 
of  your  locality,  properly  mounted  on 
cardboard  so  that  it  may  not  be  easily  torn. 
A  kerosene  lamp  is  an  abomination.  The 
wick  is  soon  used  up,  the  chimney  easily 
broken,  the  thing  reeks  of  oil  and  is  alto- 
gether a  source  of  too  much  attention. 
Candles  are  much  better,  though  slightly 
more  bulky. 

If  you  are  in  a  big  game  country,  ar- 
range a  beam  nearby  the  camp  on  which 
to  suspend  such  game  as  may  be  brought 
in.  If  you  have  ever  tried  to  raise  a  good- 
sized  buck  into  place  you  may  remember 
that  it  involved  something  of  an  effort.  A 
big  blacktail  is  harder  to  arrange,  a  caribou 
128 


Oh 
C 


SOME    HUNTING    CABINS 


almost  impossible,  and  a  moose  is  the  limit. 
The  solution  is  easy.  On  one  of  your  trips 
pack  in  some  small  blocks  and  tackle,  and 
be  sure  to  have  your  beam  strongly  braced 
and  secure.  Fashion  a  number  of  gambrels 
or  sticks  for  spreading  the  carcasses.  These 
are  merely  hardwood  sticks  eighteen  inches 
or  longer.  Larger  ones  should  be  made  for 
lifting  the  animals.  Have  a  place  for 
these  where  they  may  be  found  when 
w^anted. 

The  door  will  need  a  fastening  and,  as 
it  will  swing  inward,  the  fastening  will  of 
course  be  on  the  inside.  A  simple  con- 
trivance is  shown  in  the  drawing,  which 
will  serve  better  than  any  words  to  describe 
exactly  what  is  required.  Make  the  latch 
of  hard  wood,  and  if  no  other  means  are  at 
hand  to  bore  the  hole  on  which  it  swings, 
burn  it  tlii'ough  with  some  convenient  piece 
of  iron.  Attach  a  cord  or  thong  to  the 
latch,  let  it  pass  up  above  the  latch  for  a 
139 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 


foot  or  so  and  then  through  a  hole  in  the 
door,  whence  it  can  hang  down  ready  for 
use.    A  small  stick  tied  to  the  end  will  pre- 


r 


w 


vent   the   latchstring   from   inadvertently 
getting  pulled  inside  the  cabin. 

Dig  a  hole  into  which  the  litter  from  the 
camp  may  be  thrown  and  covered  with  a 
thin  layer  of  earth.  This  will  aid  materially 
130 


SOME    HUNTING   CABINS 

in  keeping  down  the  number  of  house- 
flies. 

The  earth  should  be  banked  about  the 
camp  to  keep  the  water  from  running 
underneath,  and  to  shut  out  the  draughts 
during  the  colder  seasons. 


131 


A    FEW    PLANS 


CHAPTER  X 


A  FEW   PLANS 


Wildwood 

WILDWOOD  is  a  thoroughly 
comfortable  camp,  easily  con- 
structed. The  living  room  is 
large  enough  to  contain  a  fii-eplace  and 
chimney  of  ample  dimensions.  A  thimble 
should  be  put  in  the  chimney  to  accommo- 
date the  pipe  from  a  stove  in  the  dining 
room  in  the  event  of  very  severe  weather, 
though  the  stove  in  the  kitchen  will  keep 
the  dining  room  veiy  comfortable  late  in 
November  in  ^Nlaine. 

The  doorway  between  the  living  room 
and  dining  room  might  be  made  wider  than 
is  sho^vn  on  the  plan,  with  a  simple  drapery 
hung. 

135 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 


The  stairway  is  two  feet  wide,  with  a 
rustic  balustrade  made  of  peeled  poles 
about  three  inches  in  diameter.  Under- 
neath, in  the  dining  room,  is  a  low  closet. 
The  stairs  wind  half  way  up  and  cut 
through  the  partition,  making  a  large 
closet  underneath  in  the  bedroom. 

Upstairs  there  is  quite  a  large  room  over 
the  dining  room  and  bedroom,  ten  by  four- 
teen feet,  with  the  space  on  either  side  of 
the  room,  where  the  eaves  slope  to  the  floor, 
partitioned  off  with  a  series  of  frame 
doors,  covered  behind  with  burlap,  and 
hinged  at  the  top  to  swing  up  against  the 
roof.  These  are  about  four  feet  high,  and 
so  a  very  considerable  storage  space  is  ob- 
tained behind  them.  The  room  is  used  as 
a  sleeping  room,  and  contains  one  window. 

In  the  kitchen  everything  is  at  hand. 

The  stovepipe  is  run  through  the  side  of 

the  house  and  is  kept  from  contact  with  the 

woodwork  by  passing  through  a  terra  cotta 

136 


>v:; 


'V 


•Wildwood"  Nestles  Cosily  Among  tlie  I'iii 


A   FEW   PLANS 

pipe  of  larger  dimensions.  The  window  is 
hinged  at  the  top  and  opens  inside  against 
the  roof. 

The  refrigerator  is  on  the  back  porch, 
and  over  it  are  built  a  set  of  shelves  with 
screen  doors,  where  fish  and  game  may  be 
safely  kept.  The  whole  entrance  to  the 
porch  is  screened  and  a  screen  door  is  set 
in  the  center.  The  woodshed  is  convenient 
and  contains  one  window  with  a  door  in- 
stead of  a  sash,  through  which  the  wood 
may  be  thrown  for  piling.  Should  the  door 
leading  from  the  woodshed  into  the  living 
room  be  found  undesirable,  cut  only  a 
small  one  near  the  floor,  which  may  be  cov- 
ered with  a  box  seat.  Thus  you  will  ac- 
quire a  wood  box  that  may  be  readily  filled 
from  the  woodshed. 

Crow's  Nest 

Light  and  air  are  liberally  provided  for 
in  the  cabin  design  of  Crow's  Nest  by  very 

137 


..X 


WILDERNESS   HOMES 


long  windows  opening  on  hinges.  Theii' 
shape  is  also  designed  so  that  the  view  from 
inside  the  rooms  is  always  properly  framed. 
A  window  in  the  peak  of  the  cabin  should 
be  small  and  capable  of  being  opened  by  a 
cord  from  inside.  This  will  afford  a 
needed  outlet  for  heated  air  during  the 
long  summer  days.  Provide  suitable  shut- 
ters to  fasten  over  the  windows  on  closing 
the  camp  for  the  season. 

It  will  be  found  advisable  in  the  smaller 
type  of  cabin  to  make  the  window  seats  in 
box  form,  with  removable  top  for  storage 
space.  If  but  a  single  floor  is  laid,  line  the 
boxes  with  tin.  This  will  protect  your 
blankets,  etc.,  from  the  mice  and  other  ver- 
min that  are  sure  to  get  in  the  house. 

If  your  sirring  is  not  nearby,  a  great 
labor-saving  device  can  be  arranged  as  fol- 
lows: Take  a  barrel  and  fasten  it  at  the 
right  height,  so  that  the  water  will  run  out 

of  it  by  means  of  a  small  pipe,  connecting 
138 


•   Cr'O'W  A    '<€«►  ■■ 


WILDERNESS   HOMES 

the  sink  and  regulated  by  a  faucet.  A 
V-shaped  trough,  suspended  under  the 
eaves,  will  keep  the  barrel  supplied  nearly 
all  the  time.  At  any  rate  a  half  hour  spent 
in  filling  the  barrel  now  and  then  is  much 
easier  than  carrying  water  each  day.  Of 
course,  for  cooking  and  drinking  the  usual 
trip  to  the  spring  must  be  made,  unless  one 
has  the  ingenuity  to  make  the  spring  come 
to  him.  An  icebox,  built  into  the  wall  and 
capable  of  being  jfilled  from  the  outside, 
will  be  found  a  great  convenience. 

Don't  forget  to  cover  the  adjacent  wall 
with  zinc  before  setting  up  the  stove. 

A  Club  House 

A   log-cabin   structure    is   particularly 

adapted  for  the  home  of  a  club  of  out-door 

lovers.    It  was  a  great  pleasure  to  design 

the  club  house  shown  here,  in  response  to 

the  following :  "  Please  publish  an  article 

\     on  how  to  erect  a  small,  modest-priced  club 

.-.  140 

■^       ^     -\ 


A   FEW   PLANS 

house  for  a  club  of  ten  or  twenty ;  we  have 
such  a  club,  and  we  want  to  build  one  next 
fall.  Of  course,  a  good-sized  living  or 
club  room  would  have  to  be  incorporated 
in  the  plan." 

The  simplest  form  of  club  house  I  can 
think  of  is  the  camp  of  a  logging  crew, 
which  might  be  thirty-five  feet  long  by 
twenty  wide.  On  one  side  are  double  tiers 
of  bunks,  on  the  other  side  is  the  long  table, 
while  the  big  stove  occupies  the  center,  and 
around  it  the  crew  congregate  after  the 
day's  chopping  to  do  their  mending  and 
have  a  smoke  before  turning  in.  In  about 
twenty  minutes  the  air  is  redolent  of  to- 
bacco smoke,  the  smell  of  cooking  and  the 
steam  from  the  wet  clothing  hung  about  to 
dry. 

Now,  if  the  objectionable  features  of  the 
logging  camp  could  be  eliminated  and  de- 
sirable ones  substituted  without  any  great 
increase  in  cost,  our  task  would  be  easy. 
141 


.    J^v 


WILDERNESS    HOMES 


Unfortunately  this  cannot  be  done  alto- 
gether; but  the  design  shown  combines  all 
the  good  features  compatible  with  a  mod- 
erate-priced structure. 

The  club  room  is  divided  from  the  sleep- 
ing room  by  a  partition  of  logs.  In  the 
center  of  the  partition  the  chimney  is  set 
with  opening  for  a  fire  in  each  room.  The 
design  of  this  should  differ  in  each  room 
to  add  the  charm  of  variety.  To  the  right 
of  the  chimney  a  doorway,  hung  with  cur- 
tains, leads  into  the  sleeping  room,  and  to 
the  left  a  case  with  spaces  for  guns  and 
rods  is  provided.  A  swinging  door  leads 
into  the  kitchen. 

In  the  slee^iing  room  are  tiers  of  lockers, 
which  afford  storage  for  the  members' 
clothing,  etc.  A  hole,  covered  with  wire 
screening,  should  be  cut  near  the  top  of 
each  locker  for  ventilation.  It  is  a  good 
rule  to  incorporate  in  the  "  House  Laws  " 
that  no  damp  clothing  is  to  be  put  in  the 
144 


A   FEW   PLANS 


lockers.  Rig  a  clothesline  back  of  the 
house,  where  things  can  be  dried  and 
sunned,  and  keep  the  sleeping  ajDartment 
as  sweet  and  wholesome  as  possible. 

The  bunks  provide  sleeping  space  for 
ten  people,  allowing  three  feet  to  each  per- 
son. If  there  are  more  than  ten,  a  second 
tier  should  be  built,  but  should  be  at  least 
six  feet  above.  The  bottom  of  these  bunks 
should  be  lined  with  building  paper,  to 
prevent  the  dust,  etc.,  from  sifting  down 
on  the  sleepers  beneath.  Build  your  bunks 
very  solid,  with  supporting  posts  every 
tliree  feet  in  front,  and  on  every  other  one 
nail  cleats  for  ladders  to  the  upper  berths. 

If  two  tiers  of  berths  are  used,  the  win- 
dow's on  either  side  of  the  cabin  will  have 
to  be  omitted  and  the  window  in  the  end 
made  larger  and  very  tall. 

Under  the  shelves  and  closet  in  the 
kitchen  additional  shelves  should  be  made, 
with  doors  enclosing  your  supplies.  A 
145 


WILDERNESS   HOMES 

large  hogshead  for  water  should  be  set  up 
outside,  with  pipe  and  faucet  to  the  sink. 
A  door  leads  from  the  kitchen  into  the 
cook's  room;  but  if  the  slight  additional 
expense  is  no  objection,  three  feet  can  be 
added  to  the  length  of  the  room  and  a  par- 
tition put  up.  This  will  give  a  space  for  a 
refrigerator  or  icebox  and  ample  room  for 
storing  supplies.  Incidentally  it  would 
make  a  capital  dark  room  in  addition.  A 
window  should  be  put  in  the  end  of  the 
pantry  and  a  door  cut  into  the  refrigerator, 
so  that  the  ice  may  be  put  in  from  the 
outside. 


.^.. 


V 


The  Block  House 

The  Block  House  is  our  concession  to  a 
two-story  structure.  Occasionally  a  site 
will  be  chosen  for  which  this  form  of  cabin 
is  adapted,  and  it  should  be  erected  as  sim- 
ply as  the  drawing  indicates.  Any  devia- 
tion in  the  way  of  elaboration  would  cause 
146 


//    I'.'  i'  ;■'•••  'I  1 1    N"' 

./i uLjI-iL-jL  J  L_'J_Ll- 11 10 

Gi-ound    floor  of  "The.  Blockho"J«' 


2"    f-loor 


"  TVie.  Vi\o«.kV>oc»  fc 


WILDERNESS   HOMES 


the  building  to  instantly  lose  character. 
However,  a  porch  without  any  railing,  if 
kept  close  to  the  ground,  might  be  added 
to  extend  around  three  sides. 

The  living  room  is  well  lighted  from 
three  sides  and  the  kitchen  is  practically 
separate  from  the  rest  of  the  house.  A 
flight  of  winding  steps  leads  to  the  upper 
floor,  which  may  be  partitioned  off*  as 
shown,  to  make  a  large  closet  and  a  hall 
leading  to  two  bedrooms. 

After  the  last  course  of  logs  on  the  first 
floor  is  laid,  the  long  timbers  for  the  second 
floor  are  put  in  place,  as  indicated  by  the 
dotted  lines  in  the  drawing.  At  the  front 
of  the  house  shorter  timbers  are  laid  at 
right  angles,  their  notched  ends  fitting 
underneath  the  last  joist  and  resting  on  top 
of  the  course  log  of  the  lower  story.  The 
spaces  left  between  the  course  log  and  the 
floor  will  be  fitted  with  short  logs  spiked 

fast  before  laying  the  floor. 

148 


A   FEW   PLANS 


Idlewild 

For  an  easily  constructed  cabin,  full  of 
character  and  thoroughly  homelike,  Idle- 
wUd  is  ideal.  There  is  always  a  shady  nook 
on  the  veranda  to  be  enjoyed,  and  the  ab- 
sence of  a  covering  for  this  on  either  side 
permits  an  abundance  of  light  and  air  to 
reach  the  living  room. 

This  is  a  small  cabin,  but  if  it  be  raised 
three  or  four  feet  from  the  ground  and  the 
veranda  railing  and  other  rustic  features 
are  accented,  the  whole  will  take  on  an  air 
of  largeness  and  comfort,  and  the  result 
will  be  thoroughly  artistic. 

Over  the  bedrooms  and  kitchen  a  floor 
should  be  laid,  if  possible,  and  a  small  win- 
dow cut,  in  either  of  the  storage  rooms  thus 
obtained,  for  ventilation.  This  space  will 
make  a  vast  difference  in  the  temperature 
of  the  rooms  beneath  during  a  heated  term. 
149 


A   FEW   PLANS 

If  one  of  the  windows  in  the  end  should  be 
of  generous  size,  it  would  enable  you  to 
stow  your  canoes  very  conveniently  here 
in  the  absence  of  a  boathouse. 


The  Jolly  Pines 

The  Jolly  Pines  is  a  compact  cabin,  with 
ample  room  for  the  full  enjoyment  of  such 
of  the  vacation  time  as  must  be  lived 
indoors. 

The  front  door  of  the  living  room  is 
double  and  the  windows  are  of  the  case- 
ment type,  so  that  the  entire  front  of  the 
house  may  practically  be  thrown  open. 

In  this  case  the  chimney  is  built  up  inside 
the  cabin  and  occupies  a  corner  of  the 
room.  The  partitions  should  be  carried  up 
to  meet  the  slant  of  the  roof,  and  thus  you 
will  obtain  a  large  and  airy  room  of  special 
interest,  because  of  the  varying  pitches  of 
the  roof,  with  its  system  of  rafters  and  the 
unusual  situation  of  the  fireplace.  This 
151 


A   FEW   PLANS 

should  face  the  front  door  as  nearly  as 
possible. 

The  bedroom  and  kitchen  may  be  floored 
over  to  gain  additional  storage  space  and 
to  assist  in  keeping  the  temperature  down. 

The  Antlers 

By  partitioning  off  part  of  the  veranda 
one  gains  considerable  space,  which  may  be 
utilized  as  a  bedroom.  If  more  porch  room 
is  needed,  it  may  easily  be  obtained  by  add- 
ing an  uncovered  veranda  to  the  end  of  the 
house. 

Should  you  desire  to  build  the  chimney 
outside  the  cabin,  cut  a  hole  in  the  wall 
large  enough  for  the  fireplace,  including 
the  shelf.  Then  proceed  to  build  according 
to  the  dii'ections  in  the  body  of  the  book. 
The  fireplace  need  not  in  this  case  project  y       ■>. 

very  far  into  the  room.    A  small  window         ^y-^}; 
on  either  side  of  the  fireplace  and  high  up       '      \     i' 
would    assist    materially    in    obtaining    a 
153 


The  AnJ-lers" 


A    FEW   PLANS 

draught  on  a  hot  day.  This  would  leave 
space  beneath  for  bookshelves,  seats,  or 
gun  cases,  etc.  In  any  of  the  structures  do 
not  fail  to  make  ample  allowance  for  the 
storage  of  dishes  and  supplies.  It  may 
often  happen  that  a  space  beneath  the  floor 
reached  by  a  trapdoor  could  be  built  with 
little  trouble  and  large  gain. 

The  size  of  the  kitchen  might  be  cur- 
tailed if  it  seems  desirable  to  make  the  bed- 
room larger. 

Whenever  half  doors  are  used  a  batten 
should  be  placed  on  the  upper  half  that 
will  lap  over  the  lower  half  about  one 
inch.  This  will  give  you  protection  from 
draughts  and  from  the  driving  rains  which 
often  beat  against  the  walls  beneath  the 
porch  roofs. 


THE   EXD 


loo 


Worth  CroMna  state 


^nlfa^^ 


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The  Lofig  Labrador  Trail 

By  DILLON  IV ALL  ACE 
Illustrated,  cloth,  decorative.     Price,  ^IJO  net. 
The  story  of  Mr.    Wallace's  return   to  Labradcjr  to  take  up  again  the  work  of 
exploring  the  interior  of  that  country  first  attempted  by  him  and  Leonidas  Hubbard 
in  1903. 

The  New  York  Evening  Sufi  says:  "It  is  the  first  book  about  the  heart  of 
Labrador." 

The  Greater  America 

By  RALPH  D.  PAINE 
Illustrated,  cloth,  decorative.     Price,  ■$l.JO  net. 
This  thrilling  book  tells  of  the  vast  resources  and  wonderful  industries  of  this 
marvelous  land  of  ours. 

The  Philadelphia  Press  says:  "  'The  Greater  America'  will  be  a  revelation  to 
many  people  who  realize  nothing  of  the  vast  movements  in  the  West  in  recent 
years." 

The  Shame/ess  Diary  of  an  Explorer 

By  ROBERT  DUNN 
Illustrated,  cloth,  decorative.     Price,  $i.SO  net. 
A  vivid  account  of  a  recent  attempt  to  reach  the  top  of  Mount  McKinley. 
The  New  Orleans  Daily  Picayune  says:  "Worth  a  dozen  precise  narratives  of 
scientific  exploration." 

Boat  Sailings  Fair  Weather  and  Foul 

By  CAPTAIN  A.  J.  KENEALY 
Illustrated,  cloth,  decorative.      Price,  $1.00  net. 
This  is   the  eighth  edition  of  a  capital  book  dealing  with  one  of  the  most  inter- 
esting of  sports.      The  demand  of  the   public,  as  shown  by  the  number  of  editions 
through  which  the  book  has  passed,  denotes  sufficient  evidence  of  the  worth  of  this 
volume. 

Bait  Angling  for  Common  Fishes 

By  LOUIS  RIIEAD 
Illustrated,  cloth,  decorative.     Price,  $i.2S  net. 
This  volume  is  full  of  valuable  information  regardmg  the   history  and  habits  of 
the  fishes  described  as  well  as  directions  on  how  to  catch  them. 

The  Chicago  Inter-Ocean  says:  "A  useful  work  for  anglers  by  a  writer  of 
authority." 

THE    OUTING    PUBLISHING    CO. 

35-37  WEST  31ST  STREET,      -         -       NEW  YORK 


Other    Important    Outdoor    Books 
The  Book  of  Camping  and  Woodcraft 

By  HORACE  KEPHART 
Illustrated,  cloth,  decorative.     Price,  cloth,  $1.50  net.    Flejrible  leather,  $2.00  net. 

An  encyclopedia  that  fits  the  pocket 

The  Chicago  Evening  Post  says:  "THE  BOOK  OF  CAMPING  AND 
WOODCRAK  r  is  one  of  the  most  alluring  and  easily  the  most  complete  manual 
of  camping  now  available," 

Camp  and  Trail 

By  STEWART  EDWARD   WHITE 
Illustrated,  cloth,  decorative.     Price,  $1.25  net. 
A  practical  experience  book  telling  what  is  necessary  for  comfort  and  convenience 
in  the  camp  and  on  the  trail. 

The  Albany  Evening  Journal  says:  "The  book  will  undoubtedly  be  eagerly 
soiight  by  every  one  of  Mr.  White's  large  circle  of  readers  and  will  prove  a  valuable 
guide  and  helpmate  to  those  who  love  outdoor  life." 

The  Pass 

By  STEWART  EDWARD  WHITE 
Illustrated,  cloth,  decorative.     Price,  $1.25  net. 
Mr.  White  has  done  nothing  more  charming  or  more  instinct  with   the  subtle 
spirit  of  the  outdoors. 

The  Nation  says:  "As  an  opened-eyed  forest  rambler  and  mountain  climber  he 
(Mr.  White)  is  easily  in  the  first  rank  of  nature  writers." 

Fishing  and  Shooting  Sketches 

By  GROVER    CLEVELAND 
Illustrated,  cloth,  decorative.     Price,  $I.2J  net. 
Written  in  the  spirit  of  an  Izaak  Walton. 

The  San  Francisco  Bulletin  says:  "It  is  a  classic  that  for  pleasant  philosophy 
and  a  sound  defence  of  amiable  mendacity  stands  alone  in  the  literature  of  sport." 

Big  Game  at  Sea 

By  CHARLES  FREDERICK  HOLDER 

Illustrated,  cloth,  decorative.     Price,  $2.00  net. 

It  is  safe  to  say  that  this  work  is  the  author's  most  important  book— as  well  as 
his  most  entertaining. 

The  Boston  Globe  says  :  "  It  is  one  of  the  best  collections  of  descriptions  on  sea 
angling  ever  landed  between  book  covers,  and,  being  fact  instead  of  fiction,  it  is 
doubly  interesting." 

THE    OUTING    PUBLISHING    CO. 

35-37  WEST  31ST  STREET,      -         -      NE^V  rORK 


Interesting  Fiction 


Bar-20 


By  CLARENCE  E.  MULFORD 
Illustrated,  cloth,  decorative.     Price,  $1.^0. 
The  doings  of  the  famous  outfit  of  Bar-20,  an  old-time  ranch  in  Arizona,  are 
here  recorded.      Fifth  edition. 

The  Cleveland  News  :  "The  author  knows  old  Arizona  as  Harte  knew  Poverty 
Row  and  Poker  Flat."     Cleveland  Plain  Dealer:  "After  the  style  of  Mr.  Wister. 

The   Orphan 

Illustrated,  cloth,  decorative.     Price,  ti.SO. 

This  stirring  tale  deals  with  the  same  characters,  time,  and  country  as  the  former 
success,  "Bar-20."  It  is  a  yam  decidedly  worth  while.  Greater  even  than  the 
author's  first  book.      Third  edition. 

The  Salt  Lake  City  Tribune  says:  "  This  is  a  live,  virile  story  of  the  boundless 
West      .      .      .      of  very  great  attractiveness. " 

^/  the  Foot  of  the  Rainbow 

By  GENE  STRA  TTON-PORTER 
Illustrated,  cloth,  decorative.     Price,  $1.^0. 
The  scene  of  this  charming,  idyllic  love  story  is  laid  in  Central  Indiana.     It  is  for 
the  man   who  loves  the  earth  under  his  foot,  the  splash  of  the  black  bass,  the  scent 
of  the  pine  wood,  and  the  hum  of  earth  close  to  his  ear. 

The  Neiv  i'ork  Times  says:  "The  novel  is  imbued  throughout  with  a  poet's  love 
of  nature,  and  its  pathos  and  tender  sentiment  place  it  in  the  category  of  heart 
romances. ' ' 

The  Way  of  a  Man 

By  EMERSON  HOUGH 
Illustrated,  cloth,  decorative.     Price,  ^i.JO. 

A  great,  strong,  masterful  romance  of  American  life  in  the  early  sixties.  Love, 
romance  and  adventure  are  paramount  in  this  wonderful  story. 

The  Chicago  Record-Herald  says :  "A  story  that  grips  the  reader's  attention, 
whets  his  appetite,  and  leaves  him  ever  eager  for  more." 

The  Sportsman's  Primer 

By  NORMAN  H.    CROW  ELL 
Illustrated,  decorative  cover  design,  boards.     Price,  $1.2^. 
For  the  man  who  enjoys  sport  of  all  kinds — for  every  person   who  has  even   an 
"ounce"  of  humor — this  book  will  prove  a  gold  mine  of  fun. 
The  St  Louis  Republic  says  :  "  Most  enjoyable." 
Albany  Times-Union  says:  "One  of  the  jolliest  of  fun  making  books." 

THE    OUTING   PUBLISHING    CO, 

35-37  ^ EST  31  ST  STREET,      -         -      NEfT  TORK 


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